WIRES Central West volunteers have been responding to a heightened number of call-outs for animals in need of rescuing.

WIRES volunteer Queenie Green, who is also the regional leader of the Animal Justice Party [AJP], said there are a variety of factors that have contributed to a spike in call-outs.

“A combination of the hot weather, more users on the road and the limited access animals have had to water has seen call-outs double and triple in comparison to previous holiday periods,” Ms Green said.

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Possums are a notable species that have been in need of rescuing, and Ms Green said that they have been mainly hiding in roof spaces and garage roller doors.

“We’re getting reports of possums eating things that they never used to, such as people’s succulents,” she said.

“As an arboreal animal, possums use trees for hydration, and have been popping up in people’s homes because the dry weather has been leaving them without adequate feed.”

With the numbers of possum call-outs, Ms Green has been championing the use of possum boxes to help ease the animal’s fear during the rescuing process.

“They’re a non-lethal replication of their nocturnal environment, and it allows them to live within the range that we have to release possums in,” she said.

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By law, possums have to be released at dusk within 150 metres of where they were found onto a tall, climbable object to better their chances of survival.

“Every possum rescue that I go to, I encourage a possum box,” Ms Green said.

“When possums mark their territory, they discourage any others from coming back, and on sharing this information, I’ve found around 50 per cent of people say yes to a possum box.”

As both a member of WIRES and the AJP, Ms Green said having a political voice is important in being able to strive for improvements to legislation regarding animal welfare.

“The AJP is a mix of two things I love, and I hope having more animal advocates in the political sphere will encourage wildlife groups to work with rule-makers rather than against them,” she said.

“Being a wildlife carer isn’t enough for me, the laws in this country regarding animal welfare are too relaxed.”

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The AJP currently holds a seat in the NSW Legislative Council [Mark Pearson], and the party plans to contest various seats at the upcoming state election.

The party enjoys a dedicated following in the Central West with a membership of around 50, and meet on the first Sunday of each month, alternating between Bathurst and Orange.