COMING into what is expected to be a hotter-than usual summer, Sunraysia Wildlife Carers Group have given members of the Merbein CFA a crash course in how to care for injured wildlife on the fire ground.

Licenced wildlife carer Lisa Crowhurst showed CFA members how to care for a variety of wildlife including macropods, possums, reptiles, and birds they may come across while performing duties.

"As a wildlife rescuer it is difficult for us to get onto the fire ground while the fire is happening and after it has subsided, but it is paramount to get the animals into care as soon as possible," Ms Crowhurst said.

"Firies have a very important role to do anif time permits and they are able to get wildlife to a rescuer it is good.

"I showed them some techniques and gave them the skill set to be able to capture and rescue any orphans requiring assistance."

Ms Crowhurst said this was the first time she had worked with CFA.

"I am tied in with Wildlife Victoria and they are trying to get more awareness," she said.

"I was keen to deliver the support to our firies and I would be happy to deliver more information to all of the CFA units in Sunraysia.

"There is no formal training for them in Victoria while there is in New South Wales.

"Our guys are both sides of the border so some have been exposed to training and others haven't."

Ms Crowhurst said saving animals could bring light to CFA members who often faced tough jobs.

"Because they see so much devastation, if they can save just one joey it is really good for them to get that positive feeling," she said.

"We always try to get back to people to let them know the outcome of their rescue and we would do the same with the CFA."

Ms Crowhurst said it was essential to increase the number of trained wildlife carers in the region.

"We are a very small group" she said.

"We probably have six active volunteers and when you're thinking we cover both sides of the border, 44,000 square kilometres, there's just no way we can cover it all.

"The need for carers is paramount."

People who discovered injured animals are encouraged to contact Wildlife Victoria’s emergency hotline on (03) 8400 7300.

"The best advice if you come across an injured animal is to get it to assistance straight away.

"Treat it for shock, put it into a nice quiet warm spot and get it to medical assistance.

"The vet will take them.

"It won’t cost the member of public anything, and if they could give the details of where the animal came from that would be brilliant."