LITTLE OWL
This little Owl was collected from a bungalow in the
country. Apparently a cat had found it and started
to play with it. By the time it was found by the cat's
owner it had lost the ends of both it's wings.
Both wing tips had turned septic and were full of tiny maggots. We spent three hours picking them from inside the wing, even though
we didn't think that he was going to make it as his wounds were so bad. Fortunately he has made a remarkable recovery and is growing feathers on the stumps of his wings so hopefully he will be able to fly well enough for release.
Many cats do their hunting in the early hours of the morning - if you are a cat owner and could keep the cat in until late morning it would increase the survival rate of birds. Ninety per cent of the birds that come into the sanctuary have been
mauled by cats. Usually there is a very low survival rate for "catted" birds, because cats carry a poison on their teeth which spreads rapidly through a birds system. They usually die within 48 hours.
FOX CUBS
These fox cubs were brought into the sanctuary on
the night of 29th March 2002. It is believed their
mother had been killed on the roads and these three
little cubs were found by a lady outside their den.
She heard them screaming for their mother. The RSPCA officer who attended the call, picked up the three cubs and brought them into the sanctuary. They were all in shock,
very hungry and very cold, but started to pick up with some warmth and re-hydration fluids.
The RSPCA officer was sure that he could hear another cub in the den and placed some sticks over the entrance hole to see if mum came back.
The next day the lady who had found them phoned
up and said that she had found another cub outside
the den. It was so hungry it was trying to suckle on
a dead pigeon.
Things looked a bit doubtful for this tiny cub as it was also the runt of the
litter. After plenty of tender loving care he pulled through and is now in the fox enclosure waiting to be released with his
brothers.
HEDGEHOGS
We have been inundated with tiny hedgehogs this
year. Apparently they are orphaned but most of the
time mum just leaves them after being disturbed.
Hand rearing hedgehogs is a difficult task. They need to be fed throughout the night. When they are really tiny they need feeding every two hours night and day. When you have to get up early for the fledgling birds too, you can soon get run down and ill yourself. Luckily
we have a few young ladies that help with the hedgehogs. Gina and Alison are brilliant carers, and have so far done a remarkable job with the squirrels and hedgehogs. Another young girl,
Lucy, took on 3 baby squirrels for a week and did a really good job of caring for them. When she had to go back to school she couldn't cope and so we passed them onto another carer,
Theresa, who finished the rearing. With the help of these wonderful people
we're pleased to say we never have to reject a baby animal. "Thanks Girls".
If you should find a baby hedgehog that seems to be
in trouble or out in the day (any hedgehog that is out
in the day is in trouble) put it in a box and keep it
warm with a warm hot water bottle (not too hot).
If you don't have a hot water bottle any bottle with warm water in will do as long as it has a lid to it. NEVER feed it cows milk. Goats milk is fine. Put in a saucer of cat or dog food (meat based not fish) and some water. Put some newspaper over the box and find the nearest wildlife rehabilitation unit to you - or contact the RSPCA who should put you in touch with someone.
WATERFOWL
We've taken in two cygnets and two goslings, who
all fell victim to discarded fishing line. Fortunately
these four were able to be saved, but many don't
get seen until it is too late and suffer a terrible
death.
If you are a fisherman or fisherwoman and have some unused line "PLEASE" take it home and discard it properly. Most household waste goes into landfill sites, so it is advisable to cut it up before disposal.
We also took in a family of swans last week ALL of which died due to lead poisoning from fishermen's lead weights. "PLEASE" don't use these - they are so dangerous. I am aware that many lead weights are at the bottom of lakes and waterways and are accessible to the waterfowl when the water is low - but incredibly there are still some fishermen and fisherwomen that use these - "PLEASE
DON'T".
GARDEN BIRDS
This time of year many birds are busy bringing up their young, but at the sanctuary we are inundated with birds. Many are
starving and too weak to survive as there is not enough natural food for them.
If you do feed the birds, then please continue throughout the summer months, as this is when they need your help. Human activity has already broken the natural food and habitat chain, and now they need our help for survival. Please do not feed the birds near to where there are cats about. Cats will often sit and wait for the birds to come and then attack them one by one.
If you should need any advice on wildlife matters then please do not hesitate to contact the sanctuary.
Site Created and Maintained
News -
Summer 2002