Animal shelters and individual carers treating wildlife injured in Victoria's Christmas bushfires can apply for a one-off grant to help cope with the demand.
The Andrews government is giving up to $500 to shelters working round the clock to care for hundreds of animals injured in the 2900-hectare Wye River bushfire that razed 116 homes on the Victorian coast.
Environment Minister Lisa Neville says the grant is part of an $80,000 fund designed to reimburse carers for the costs associated with caring for sick wildlife.
But Wildlife Victoria relationships manager Amy Hidge said while it was "fantastic to see the Victorian government recognising the part wildlife shelters play in bushfire events", the $500 would not go a long way.
"Rehabilitating bushfire victims is a lengthy, expensive exercise," Ms Hidge told AAP.
"Animals need a lot of medication, bandages and even the particular burns cream we use is very expensive.
"Even though vets do a lot of the work for free, there's only so much they can do and will have to charge."
Animals kept at the shelters for months would also require food, which was expensive, Ms Hidge said.
Shelters would still need help from the community to adequately cover the costs of caring for sick and displaced animals.
A government spokeswoman said the funding was intended for many small shelters and individual carers looking after wildlife along the Otways Ranges.
Carers would be reimbursed for petrol, food and medical supplies needed to keep animals alive.
