The Marrero Family Making The Most Of Life!: Fourth Crossing Wildlife rehabilitation.

Our featured animal park of today is actually a rescue and rehabilitation center
called
Fourth Crossing Wildlife - Australian Native Animal Information.
They rescue and do their best to rehabilitate Australian animals that get injured or hurt.

At Fourth Crossing Wildlife, carers from all over the world who specialise in the rearing and rehabilitation of Australian native animals -
as well as others who are keen to learn more about our wonderful wildlife - can find caring information, quality wildlife resources,
photo’s and educational / entertaining stories written by wildlife carers from all corners of the wildlife community.
http://www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com/
Linda Dennis it's founder has a very impressive list of credentials when it comes to working with wildlife.
Including:
Victoria University
Certificate III in Captive Animals (Wildlife Husbandry and Rehabilitation)
Macquarie University
Conservation, Welfare & Handling
of Australian Marsupials and numerous other schools and training that are listed here:
http://www.fourthcrossingwildlife.com/LindaDennis.htm

Creator and owner of Fourth Crossing Wildlife
My passion for Australian native animals was kick started nearly 20 years ago with my very first raptor experience at Eagle Heritage near Margaret River in Western Australia. After an up close and personal experience with a Black Kite perching on my gloved hand I vowed that I would soon work closely with these magnificent creatures.
Some years later I held true to the vow and I become licensed to raise and rehabilitate native animals that had been injured, were sick or orphaned. And, with the help of my husband Todd, I have now been experiencing the joy of wildlife care for just around 12 years.
In 2003 I created Fourth Crossing Wildlife which started out as a place to share my care knowledge, photos and stories on of native animals. It has since grown to become the wildlife carers best friend with quality care guides and short term care tips easily accessible by people (and critters!) in need. Many highly experienced wildlife carers contribute to FCW, including veterinarians and zoo keepers.

I have cared for many Australian native animals including several species of macropod and possum, various reptiles and many species of bird including my beloved Birds of Prey, of which I specialised in for 3 years. I had the immense pleasure of successfully rehabilitating and releasing many Birds of Prey including the awesome Wedge-Tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Collared Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Falcon, Black-Shouldered Kite and more.
I have had the enormous delight of raising Bare-Nosed Wombats, my all time favourite critter! These short and stocky bundles of energy and bravado have become my ultimate passion in life! Our first wombat Tici - with very little effort - took over a large part of my heart and I have been hooked on wombats ever since.
In 2004 I recognised that there was a gaping hole in my region in the area of public education relating to Australian wildlife and so I established Fauna First Aid, a program teaching vet nurse students at Orange TAFE how to properly care for native animals in a veterinary care situation. In 2005 I extended the program to include school age students - highlighting the dangers involved in handling wild animals and to show what Mum & Dad could do during short term care periods.

In June 2005 Fauna First Aid became a project sponsored by the Australian Geographic Society - a very humbling and proud moment. With such high profile backing I decided to take the plunge and move my wildlife seminars to the next level and so became a guide to the care of bare-nosed wombats. I also teach Macropology with the approval and support of Cheryl Dooley, author.
Other institutions such as IFAW and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia have also recognised my wildlife work, which I am eternally grateful for.
Member of
Northern Tablelands Wildlife Carers
Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
My wildlife volunteer work
Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Regional Advisor and Newsletter Editor
The Wombat Foundation Webmaster
Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat Hair Census x2
Western Ringtail Possum Mortality Study
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital Volunteer
The Wombat Protection Society of Australia Webmaster and Director (now finished)
WA Australian Seabird Rescue Webmaster (now finished)
NSW Wildlife Council Steering Committee member (now finished)

My wildlife awards
WPSA Serventy Conservation Award Runner Up
IFAW Welfare and Education Award

Linn: Linda,so why do you take the time to rehabilitate animals?
Linda: The most pleasureable thing is when raising an orphaned animal, the trust they have in me. I become their mum.
The cuddles are so heart warming. They also have "funny five minutes" where they go just a little crazy during play time.
It's heaps of fun. And at the end of their time with us it is so rewarding to see them go back to their natural habitat and turn wild. That's what I do it for!!!!
Linn: How do the animals come to you?
Linda: The animals come to me from my wildlife care group, Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers.
Also, people in the region know me so they call.
Most of the critters in my care of late are because their mums got hit by a car and they've come to me so that I can raise them.

Linda has worked with countless Australian animals like Koala's,Kangaroos,Wallaroo's,Wombats,Wallaby's,Quokka's,numerous types of birds,snakes,reptiles you name it.