WILDLIFE is having a harder time than one WIRES leader has ever seen, but good-hearted volunteers hope to soften the blow with a new craft project.
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A team of animal lovers in the Northcott Everyday Life Skills group in Tamworth is making pouches, wraps and mittens for animals hurt in bushfires and weakened by drought.
Participant Lauren Wilson said it had been "a team effort for a couple of weeks".
"It's really nice to do it ... to keep them warm and safe at night," she said.
The group of people with disabilities collected donations of fabric from Spotlight and Lincraft, plus other materials from the Vinnies op shop.
They aim to make about 100 of the colourful items and distribute them to carer groups in fire-affected areas across the nation.
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The first batch has gone to local WIRES carers.
Group chairman David McKinnon said they were looking after a "tremendous amount of weak joeys" and the pouches were very needed.
"We're very grateful ... they've done a great job; they look really well-made," he said.
Life Skills co-coordinator Sharon Leonard said the project came about after the Life Skills participants had seen in the news "about the devastating fires".
"Initially we were looking at doing some baking and sending it to Moonbi, but because the community rallied so hard around that, it was then not needed so quickly," she said.
"Our focus shifted to the wildlife ...
"They've made all these joey pouches - different sizes for different needs - koala mittens and we're going to do some bat wraps as well."
Life Skills participant Nathan Cook said the joey pouches were a convenient way to keep the animals warm and secure.
"You can hang it on a door or put it over your neck with the baby joey inside, and it keeps your hands free," he said.