Registered Wildlife Rehabilitator & Reptile Relocator - Emma, Perth WA

01/03/2026

It’s officially baby bobtail season, which means my phone starts buzzing with messages about tiny little shinglebacks found “all alone.” I absolutely love that our community cares enough to check in first — that’s such a good thing.

But here’s something really important to know:

Bobtails are live born.
There are no nests, no eggs, and no parents coming back later. Once they’re born, they are completely independent and fend for themselves from day one. So finding a baby bobtail alone is very normal and usually not a reason to rescue.

In fact, picking them up unnecessarily can cause stress and remove a perfectly healthy wild animal from where it belongs.

When DOES a bobtail need help?

Please contact a wildlife rehabilitator if you see a lizard that is:
• Very skinny or clearly malnourished
• Heavily burdened with parasites (ticks clustering around ears/eyes)
• Injured (especially from lawn mowers, dogs or cars)
• Dehydrated (sunken eyes are a big red flag)
• Showing signs of “flu” — sneezing, watery or weary eyes, lethargic and thin

If you’re unsure, you’re always welcome to send a photo and description before intervening.

These little prehistoric sausages are tougher than they look. Most babies you see cruising around are doing exactly what nature designed them to do — being tiny, independent, sun-soaking legends.

Thank you for caring about our local wildlife and for checking before you scoop. That small pause makes a big difference.

— Emma 💙

19/01/2026

Perth friends, the next few days are going to be hot, hot, hot and our local wildlife will really be feeling it.

If you can, please put out shallow bowls of water at varying heights around your yard or balcony. Adding a few rocks, marbles, or a stick in the bowl gives insects, bees, and tiny critters a safe place to land and drink without the risk of drowning.

A few extra ways to help:
• Run your sprinkler or hose briefly at night to dampen garden areas. This creates cool, safe spots for wildlife to rest and rehydrate.
• Leave some shaded areas under plants, shrubs, or furniture for animals to escape the sun.
• Keep pets indoors during peak heat and make sure they always have plenty of fresh, cool water.
• Check under cars and in shady spots before driving off. Small animals often hide there to escape the heat.
• If you find a distressed or injured animal, please contact a local wildlife carer or rescue group for advice.

Small actions make a big difference. Let’s help our wild neighbours get through this heatwave safely.

Stay cool, stay safe and look out for each other.

💚 Emma

18/01/2026

Before today’s Puppy Preschool class could begin, I had a very important tiny guest to safely es**rt out of the room.

This little baby skink decided to drop in for a look around just before the puppies arrived. So, wildlife rehabilitator duties were activated, a gentle hand was offered, and my smallest student was relocated back to a much more appropriate outdoor learning environment.

Classroom now puppy-proofed, skink safely released, and the puppies were free to arrive and steal the show. Just another day in the life of Emma – Puppy Preschool Instructor and Wildlife Rehabilitator.

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you all a wonderful festive season and all the very best for 2026.

Thank you so much for your support this year — from rescue calls to kind messages, every bit of help means the world to me (and to the grumpy, scaly patients who pretend they don’t like me… but secretly do).

I may not have been as active online as I’d like, but there’s still been plenty happening behind the scenes.

It’s a real privilege to care for our incredible reptiles and help them get back where they belong — sunbaking, snacking, and judging us from the bushes.

Here’s to another year of rescues, releases, and surprise encounters with bobtails in unexpected places. Stay safe, enjoy the holidays, and keep cool.

With thanks and a smile,
Emma

17/11/2025

Today I did something a little different from my usual wildlife work — I donated plasma.

As a wildlife rehabilitator, I spend a lot of time caring for injured and vulnerable animals, but today I had the chance to help humans in need too. Plasma donations play a vital role in saving lives, supporting people with serious medical conditions, and giving families hope when they need it most.

With the giving season upon us, I can’t think of a greater gift than the gift of love — and donating plasma is one of the simplest, most meaningful ways to do just that.

If you’re able, I’d love to encourage you to roll up your sleeve and give it a try. It’s safe, it’s straightforward, and your donation can make a massive difference to someone’s life.

Let’s spread kindness in every way we can — for our wildlife, for our community, and for each other.

Emma ❤️🩸

09/11/2025

08/11/2025

I took a wrong turn today — and somehow ended up exactly where I was meant to be.

I spotted a bobtail on the side of the road and pulled over to check if it was injured. Thankfully, no wounds or illness — just absolutely covered in ticks. Poor thing must have been feeling pretty awful.

After a careful tick removal session and a very weak Betadine bath, this little scaly friend is already looking much brighter. They’ll spend the night resting safely before being released back to where they were found first thing tomorrow morning.

Sometimes a wrong turn leads you straight to someone who needs a hand.

Anyone want to guess how many ticks I removed?

22/10/2025

This little bobtail lizard is giving me the ultimate sign of approval — a post-feed lip lick!

He’s recovering from a fractured jaw after being hit by a car, so each tube feed has to be slow, careful and pain-free.

It’s always a relief to see them comfortable enough to clean up afterwards — a sure sign that healing is on track.

With plenty of rest, warmth and a bit of TLC, this scaly patient is well on the road to recovery.

Please keep an eye out for our local bobtails on the roads, especially as the weather warms up — they’re out and about looking for mates and can easily blend into the bitumen.

Emma x

14/10/2025

Just drawn up some tube feeds for my little bobtail patients. I’ve currently got five in care, most with facial injuries from cars.

These resilient lizards need strong pain relief and very gentle tube feeding to give their bodies the best chance to heal. It’s a slow process, but they’re tough little characters and worth every bit of care.

If you spot a bobtail on the road, a quick slow-down or safe relocation can make all the difference.

06/10/2025

I just came across a healthy little bobtail crossing the road on my way home from work — its always such a relief to be able to safely help them off the road rather than having to treat them after an accident.

If you spot a bobtail on the road, the best thing you can do is help it cross in the direction it’s already heading. Use a towel, jacket, or guide it into a box to gently lift it — never pick it up by the tail. Move them a few metres off the road to a safe, shaded spot away from traffic.

If you find one that’s been injured, please don’t try to treat it yourself. Carefully place it in a ventilated box with a towel and keep it warm and quiet. It’s important not to give any water or food. Then contact a local vet, wildlife carer, or Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055 for advice.

Spring is a busy time for our reptiles — a little care and awareness on the roads makes a big difference.

29/09/2025

BOBTAILS + GARDENING

As we head into the warmer months, Bobtails and other lizards will start emerging to soak up some sunshine.
However, this also tends to coincide with us wanting to do garden maintenance.

As bobtails are slow movers, they are unable to get out of our way quickly enough, so each year we admit numerous Bobtails with injuries from garden equipment - such as whipper snippers and lawn mowers.

To help prevent this, we recommend checking your garden over for Bobtails and other little critters before you start gardening.

If you are using a whipper snipper, a simple trick to avoid accidentally injuring any critters that may be hiding in the grass is to use a 2-cut method:
Make the first cut a high cut to expose the ground below, THEN the second cut (if no critters are present) can be the cut to your ideal length.

If you accidentally injure an animal whilst gardening, or simply find one already sick / injured - gently collect them and transport them to your nearest wildlife shelter in a soft padded, warm, dark box ASAP.

For wildlife assistance, call us on 9394 0885, or the Wildcare Helpline on 9474 9055.

📸: Dave Carroll