Wildlife rehabilitators and bird flu

For people and organisations who care for wildlife, you must be aware of H5 bird flu and follow appropriate precautions to help protect yourself, other carers, the animals in your care, and our wildlife.

On this page

How H5 bird flu affects wildlife

Read about what bird flu is, clinical signs, and how it spreads.

H5 bird flu will require ongoing monitoring and management in wildlife.

H5 bird flu can spread through:

  • bird droppings
  • respiratory secretions
  • contaminated clothing, footwear and equipment
  • contaminated vehicles, feed, water and other contaminated surfaces.

All bird species should be considered potentially susceptible, but higher risk species include:

  • seabirds (e.g. gulls, terns, shearwaters)
  • waterfowl (e.g. ducks, swans, geese)
  • shorebirds
  • birds of prey/predatory or scavenging species (e.g. eagles, hawks, owls, crows, ravens).

Birds that gather in high-density settings are more at risk.

Unfortunately, animals affected by H5 bird flu are unlikely to survive and there is no known treatment available for infected wild birds.

Read more about how the Australian Government calculates the risk to native species.

Impacts on wildlife rehabilitators

You are under no obligation to care for animals that may have H5 bird flu.

If you choose to care for these animals, it is important that you know:

  • there is a low chance of birds with H5 bird flu recovering
  • there is a risk of spreading the disease when moving animals
  • there is a risk of introducing the disease to animals already in your care
  • there is a risk to you and other people
  • there is a risk of exceeding your capacity to care if H5 bird flu spreads.

You should:

  • report suspected cases of H5 bird flu to the EAD hotline on 1800 675 888
  • follow biosecurity requirements
  • take measures to protect animals already in your care
  • share accurate information with local communities and networks.

You are not expected to:

  • collect samples
  • diagnose disease
  • undertake formal disease response activities.

Before responding to any sick wildlife, assess your own level of risk and confidence in meeting the required biosecurity requirements. If you choose to accept sick wild birds where H5 bird flu is a possible cause, you must implement

  • human health measures
  • infection prevention and control measures
  • biosecurity measures.

This is to minimise the risk to human health, animal health and welfare, and the environment.

How to protect yourself and the animals in your care

Good biosecurity practices are critical to protecting yourself, the animals in your care, and our wildlife.

To take reasonable and practical measures to minimise the risk of disease spread to other animals, people, and the environment, you should:

  • isolate animals showing signs of H5 bird flu
  • avoid contact between sick animals, healthy animals and people
  • minimise handling of animals showing signs of disease
  • restrict movement of animals within, into and out of facilities
  • ensure kept birds do not contact wild birds or their droppings, and that wild birds cannot access their food or water
  • implement infection prevention and control measures
  • follow strict hygiene procedures
  • clean and disinfect footwear, equipment and work areas
  • maintain records of admissions, treatments, movements and people involved in animal care.

If you care for wild birds, avoid contact with domestic birds, especially commercial poultry farms, for 48 hours prior to and after handling wild birds.

Have a biosecurity plan in place and follow the National wildlife biosecurity guidelines (PDF, 2.3MB).

Wildlife Health Australia provides useful resources.

Cleaning and disinfectants

Cleaning and disinfection is recommended for:

  • enclosures
  • transport vehicles
  • animal carriers
  • equipment
  • facilities.

Find detailed information in the AUSVETPLAN Operation Manual – Decontamination (PDF, 2.2MB) in Section 5.2 Cleaning products, and Section 6 Decontaminants and techniques.

Refer to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority for registered decontaminants and follow label instructions.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE can include masks, eye protection, overalls and boots. You should also:

  • avoid direct contact with sick animals without using equipment
  • cover open wounds with bandaging
  • change or clean work clothes and footwear after contact with sick animals
  • clean your hands frequently, especially after handling birds and before eating
  • keep birds away from your face.

The Australian Centre for Disease Control has a bird flu toolkit for people who work with birds with PPE advice.

Mental health impacts from bird flu

The impact of being exposed to H5 bird flu, seeing sick or dead animals, or working in an affected sector may be upsetting. It's okay to ask for help or take a break if you are feeling overwhelmed. Taking time away from wildlife care is not a sign of weakness. It can help you continue to care for wildlife safely and sustainably over the long term.

Look after your mental health with small daily habits like getting regular sleep, staying active, eating well, connecting with others and following trusted sources of information.

Further support is available by contacting:

  • your doctor or health professional
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14 (24 hours a day)
  • Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 (24 hours a day)
  • 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours a day).

Further information is available from Queensland Health:

Government support for wildlife rehabilitators

Grassroots Environmental Grants

Authorised wildlife rehabilitators may be eligible for funding for projects to protect and preserve our natural and built environment

Funding can be used to support enhanced biosecurity measures, including:

  • personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • cleaning and disinfection products.

Learn more and apply for the Grassroots Environmental Grants program.

Government support for wildlife

Queensland is well prepared to respond to H5 bird flu. We have strengthened our preparedness through multi-agency planning, engaging with industry, raising public awareness, and committing funding to respond to an outbreak in wildlife.

The best ways to support wildlife include:

  • strong biosecurity practices for captive birds
  • targeted responses in locations where priority species are most abundant
  • reducing other pressures on wildlife populations, such as pest impacts and disturbance
  • appropriate carcass management.

We are working with partners across the wildlife rescue and veterinary sector to support ongoing wildlife care.

This includes:

  • supporting the South East Queensland Wildlife Hospital Network
  • investing in new and expanded wildlife hospitals such as RSPCA Redlands hospital, Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, Sea World Marine Wildlife Hospital and Green Island Turtle Rehabilitation centre
  • supporting the RSPCA Queensland 1300 ANIMAL Hotline in partnership with Biosecurity Queensland.

Disposing of dead wildlife

Landowners are responsible for disposing of animal carcasses.

Where possible, leave dead wildlife where they are found. Removing carcasses can disturb wild birds and increase the risk of disease spread. If a small number of small carcasses on your land cannot be left in place, they may be double-bagged and disposed of as general waste. Read the guidelines on how to dispose of dead wildlife on your property.

The role of wildlife hospitals

Individual wildlife hospitals and veterinarians will make their own decisions as to whether they will continue to see birds and wildlife. The National H5 HPAI guidelines for veterinarians provides guidance for veterinarians and outlines the process for triaging, assessing, sampling and managing birds suspected to be infected with H5 bird flu.

Veterinarians should immediately report suspect cases of H5 bird flu to the EAD hotline on 1800 675 888.

Vaccinations for wildlife

Broadscale vaccination of wild birds is not possible.

Australia is taking a national approach to the use of its limited vaccination supply to protect some of our most vulnerable native birds. Strong biosecurity measures remain the most effective way to protect captive birds from H5 bird flu.

Decisions will be made by state and territory governments on a case-by-case basis considering a range of factors including conservation status, value of the species, and the likelihood and potential consequences of H5 bird flu exposure.

There are currently no commercially available H5 bird flu vaccines authorised for use in mammals in Australia.

Messaging for the general public

Avoid contact. Keep children and pets away.

Record what you see, including the bird or animal species, number of impacted birds or animals, and the location.

Report sick or dead birds or wildlife to the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Reports to the EAD hotline of dead or sick birds are carefully assessed according to the risk of H5 bird flu. This may lead to a site visit and sampling. Not all reports will require testing or collection of birds.

H5 bird flu is a nationally notifiable animal disease. If you suspect an animal may be infected, you have a legal responsibility to report it as soon as possible.

Resources

Last updated:
2 September 2026
Last reviewed:
2 September 2026