Wildlife carers in Western Australia's south are warning motorists to take extra care as joey season begins and kangaroos look for water — often alongside busy roads.
While there is less traffic on the road at the moment due to coronavirus travel restrictions, Amaris Wildlife Sanctuary carer Maggie Van Santen said joeys were still being found on the side of the road without their mother.
"I had a phone call form the ranger on Sunday morning who brought a joey to me weighing 295 grams," she said.
"It was left in mum’s pouch alive and when it was found the joey was icy cold as it had been a really cold night."
She said after a number of rainfall events in the south of the state, kangaroos would be attracted to the roadside puddles.
Ms Van Santen said if drivers did hit a kangaroo, where it was safe to do so they should check its condition and see if there was a joey in its pouch.
"If you can get it to a wildlife carer as soon as possible that helps the joey to at least try and stay alive," she said.
She said in cases where it was not safe to stop and check on the welfare of the animal, phone a wildlife carer.
"Call a carer if it’s not safe to check the kangaroo, we can go out and check if it’s still alive," she said.
"If it’s been badly hurt at least we can put it down humanely and it doesn’t suffer a long, slow death."
The Tenterden wildlife carer also thanked truck drivers and motorists who did take the time to call in injuries to services.
