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| Hedgehog rescued after strimming accident |
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A hedgehog was brought into
Wildlives recently, having had its nose almost completely removed by a garden
strimmer. Strimming accidents are one of the most common hedgehog injuries we
encounter at Wildlives, although usually they involve |
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| the hedgehog's head
or legs.In this case, the injury had caused the cartilage of the nose to
collapse, obstructing the hedgehog's breathing. Ana Lapaz, our veterinary
surgeon, removed part of the cartilage to enable the hog to breathe more
easily. A routine course of antibiotics ensured against the risk of infection,
and the hedgehog made a complete recovery. It was released a couple of weeks
later. |
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| Talking of hedgehogs… |
| Time once again for
Wildlives' annual reminder about bonfire night. Hedgehogs like to have
somewhere warm to sleep during the day, and the pile of logs, branches, leaves
and shrubbery that you call a bonfire, the hedgehog might be hoping to call
'home'. Please check bonfires before you set light to them, else you are liable
to catch sleeping hedgehogs unawares. Fireworks are another problem. Domestic
animals often react with terror to the noise caused by fireworks. Wild animals
are much the same. Bear in mind therefore, that the fireworks that make no
noise at all are the most animal friendly. |
| Thank
You |
| We have recently been
undergoing major work on some of our outside enclosures. Many people have been
out fundraising to help pay for the work. Rosie would like to thank, in
particular, Jackie, Liz, Pauline, Christine and Chris, Lisa, Sinead, Eoghan and
John, Jennie and Mrs Kemble. Wildlives would also like to thank James White and
Joe Hawkins who completed a sponsored run, from outside the Tesco at Greenstead
roundabout to Wildlives. They have raised £484 so far! |
| Poisoned
fox |
The RSPCA brought a fox to
the Centre in a collapsed state. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, he died
shortly afterwards. There were no external injuries; he was in good condition
and there seemed, at that point, to be no apparent reason for his death.
Later however, Ana, and volunteer Lucy from the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons, performed a post mortem. What they found was a case of multi-organ
failure: the lungs, stomach and small intestine were all congested with blood.
The post mortem report concluded that the most likely cause was poisoning.
The DEFRA National Wildlife Management Team have now taken on the case.
Please note that there are no poisons which can be legally used on
foxes. Furthermore, with regard to the poisoning of other animals, such as
rats, the law requires that the poison be sufficiently protected to avoid the
accidental poisoning of other birds and mammals. |
| Gull senses
something is afoot |
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The RSPCA also brought in a black-headed gull -
with an unexpected companion. A clam had clamped onto the gull's toe, and the
weight of it was such that the bird was unable to fly.
The clam was
surgically detached - by amputating the toe - and the gull was put on a course
of antibiotics. He recovered well from the ordeal, and both he and his clam
were successfully [and separately] released. |
| Gannet |
| Readers may remember the story, in the
September newsletter, of a gannet brought into Wildlives. The gannet's ring
details were sent off to the British Trust for Ornithology. He was ringed at
Bass Rock in Scotland, as a nestling, 17 years ago! |
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Newsletter Editor: Ruth
info@wildlives.org.uk |
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All content © Wildlives Wildlife Rescue and
Rehabilitation Centre |