Volunteers needed to look after joeys

Hedland Native Animal Rescue is calling for more volunteers to help care for orphaned kangaroo joeys.

Hedland team leader Kerryn Turner said the rescue group had cared for more than 30 wildlife animals since the start of the year with many since being released back into the bush.

"(That number) is yet to increase which is why we urgently require volunteers to not only care for our wildlife but to raise funds to provide continual support for their essentials and for any medical treatment," she said.

South Hedland mother Rebecca Black has been caring for Candy, an 11-month-old joey, for two months after caring for another joey short-term previously.

She said the experience had taught her about the different personalities kangaroos have.

"I keep her nice and quiet - we have a four-year-old and a poodle but we all seem to be living together quite well," she said.

"Each day we make her formula and feed her every five hours and she likes a little play time outside.

"You have to toilet the joey which was something I didn't learn until I got started.

"They don't go to the toilet on their own - they need to be prompted, which is something their mother would usually do."

Ms Black and other volunteers raise funds and sew kangaroo pouches for the joeys to travel in.

To find out more about becoming a carer, contact Native Animal Rescue on 9249 3434.