7 January, 2014 12:30PM AEDT

Watch for wildlife: WIRES urges traveller caution

With extra traffic around holiday hotspots, wildlife rescue services are urging travellers to be cautious of animals on the roads. WIRES is also asking drivers to check an animal's pouch if they happen to hit it.

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Rita is one of several tiny creatures being cared for from the Brunswick Heads home - turned animal hospital - of WIRES carer Jo Chaffey.

The tiny brush tail possum was found in the pouch of her mother who was killed by a car in the Byron Bay area.

This is something that is all too common at this time of the year on the New South Wales north coast, where thousands of visitors come to spend their summer.

There is little chance of survival for animals hit on major roads like the Pacific Highway, where cars are travelling at speeds of up to 110km per hour.

But the influx of vehicles on bush and coastal roads has a big impact on native wildlife.

"We get a lot of injured animals...around the back roads, especially this time of the year when you've got someone in a brand new four-wheel drive wanting to head out in the bush, that normally doesn't go out there," Jo says.

Nocturnal animals such as kangaroos, wallabies and possums tend to be most active around dusk, throughout the night, and at first light, or after rain.

But WIRES is reminding visitors that animals can dart across the road at all times of the day.

"We never advise that people swerve to miss something because obviously we don't want them to hurt themselves, we just advise them to drive with caution and to realise that once they get out of the city they'll see wildlife at all times," Jo says.

"Especially around bushy areas, being aware that things like possums or bandicoots will actually run out in front of you and then get so stunned they'll usually turn back and go the other way and that's when they end up being collided with."

Jo is also asking that people stop and check the animal's pouch if they do happen to hit one.

"A joey can survive in the pouch for up to 24 hours, generally when they come in they're not in good health.

"It's horrendous, ants and things like that move in and they suffer quite a bit.

"I've never had a go at someone before for hitting an animal, because these things happen, but the big thing is making sure someone knows about it."

Injured wildlife can be reported to WIRES on 1300 094 737.