Wildlife

[BoYkA]

This is a short guide to rescusing and handling wildlife. Local centres can give you more information.



You can protect these larger mammals from getting further injury by positioning a car with its hazard warning lights and headlights on, behind the creature, to warn other road users, obviously providing it does not endanger you or other road users.



If you need to check if a creature is dead, a gentle prod with a long stick should be enough to get some response from an animal if it is still alive.



If you are really serious about saving wild animals you can keep a strong cardboard box or a pet carrier, a torch, a towel and a pair of thick gardening gauntlets in the boot of your car to help.



Covering an injured animal will help reduce stress and keep it warm, but be careful not to over handle the animal or bird, put it somewhere quiet, dark and warm.



Wild creatures are not calmed by contact with humans so talking to them and stroking them will only increase their stress.



It is always a good idea to keep the number of your nearest wildlife rescue centre to hand, these people will be able to handle the situation better and know exactly what to do.



If you are rescuing birds keep them away from your face. Long beaked and long necked birds will peck at anything shiny, your eyes being an obvious target, also watch out for the talons on birds of prey as these are their most dangerous weapon, throw a towel over the bird and pick it up using thick gloves.



A basic rule is if you can pick up any wildlife it probably needs help.



But the exception to this rule is fawns. The adult deer will leave them hidden for anything up to eight hours at a time. If anyone touches the fawn and it has human scent on them the adult may abandon them. If you are unsure always contact your local wildlife centre who will make sure that the fawn is discreetly monitored until the mother deer returns.



Baby birds can often be placed back in a nest, using gloved hands if it can be located. Keep watch from a distance to see that the parent birds return to the nest. Baby birds are fed pretty constantly throughout daylight hours, so if a parent bird does not return within an hour or so, contact your local rescue centre or vet for help.

[Gothic Story]

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