"We had a great turnout with local members as well as ones from branches as far north as North Sydney," local chairperson Sandy Collins said.

The course taught members how best to care, rehabilitate and raise macropods for release back into the wild.

"The drought has driven a lot of macropods near roads for the fresh grass, where they encounter vehicles," Mrs Collins said.

"The mid-south coast branch currently has its hands full with orphaned kangaroos, many of them found either abandoned by their mother and malnourished or inside pouches of deceased animals.

"It is vital to check a pouch for offspring if a macropod is hit by a car and killed, if it is safe to do so.

"Often the babies are well protected in the pouch and survive the initial impact."

Until mid November, members of the public can donate their bottle money to WIRES through the Return and Earn machines found in Catalina, Moruya and Narooma.

WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.) has been rescuing and caring for native animals for over 30 years.