What should you do if you find a wild animal?
Is the animal injured or in immediate danger? Look for bleeding or a visible wound, a wing that looks broken or is drooping, difficulty standing, walking or flying, unusual weakness, collapse or a lack of response. Is it trapped, tangled or unable to escape? Has it been caught by a cat or dog, or is it in immediate danger from traffic or other hazards? If you are unsure, always call a wildlife rescue or hospital for advice before moving the animal. It is much better to ask for guidance than to accidentally separate a healthy youngster from its mother.
For Admissions Call: 01344 623106 - 09:30 to 16:00 - 7 Days a Week
Observe Before Intervening
Watch quietly from a safe distance so the animal can behave naturally. Avoid staring, and keep people and pets away. Young wildlife may be waiting for a parent who will only return once you leave. Unless the animal is injured or in immediate danger, do not touch or remove it. If you are unsure whether it needs help, contact a wildlife rescue for advice.
Keep Them Warm
Place the animal in a quiet, dark and secure place as soon as possible.
Avoid handling it, talking to it or repeatedly checking on it, as this causes unnecessary stress and can make shock worse.
Next, find professional help. A wildlife hospital with veterinary care or a local veterinary practice are the best places to start.
Keep Your Distance
Keeping a wild animal warm is one of the most important first aid treatments you can provide. Place the animal in a ventilated box lined with a towel and keep it somewhere warm. Avoid overheating.
Every time the animal is disturbed, it uses valuable energy needed for survival. Once settled, leave it in a warm, dark and quiet place until it can receive professional care.
Do Not Give Food
or Water
Do not offer food or water.
Wildlife suffering from injury or shock often cannot digest food safely.
Feeding or giving water can make their condition worse and, in some cases, may be fatal. Our veterinary team will provide the correct fluids, nutrition and treatment when the wild animal arrives and is stable enough to receive it.
Call Us First
Please phone our Admissions Team before travelling. Wildlife hospitals work at full capacity for much of the year, so calling first allows us to prepare for your arrival or advise you on the nearest available help.
If we are temporarily full, please don’t give up. We’ll do our best to direct you to another wildlife hospital or advise you on the next steps to ensure the animal receives the care it needs.
If it is safe to do so and you feel the animal needs help
If it is safe to do so and you feel the animal needs help, carefully place the animal in a strong, secure and well-ventilated cardboard box. Use a towel and wear gloves when handling it. Keep the box somewhere warm, dark and very quiet, away from children and pets. Handle the animal as little as possible. Do not give the animal any food or water. Giving the wrong food or attempting to pour water into its mouth can cause serious harm. Call our Wildlife Admissions for advice and to check whether we have space available. If we can admit the animal, please bring it to the wildlife hospital as soon as possible. Do not attempt to handle large, dangerous or unfamiliar wildlife. Keep everyone at a safe distance and call a wildlife rescue for advice.
A Peeping Giant: Imagine trying to recover in bed while a giant badger repeatedly lifts the roof to look at you. You would feel frightened, stressed and unable to rest. This is how repeated checking can feel to a rescued wild animal. Wild animals may tolerate the sound of a human voice, but they do not understand that the voice is friendly. An animal may remain completely still while you are nearby, but this does not mean it feels calm or comfortable, it may be frozen with fear.
Every time you open the animal’s box, its stress levels rise. It may use precious energy trying to hide, escape or protect itself when that energy should be helping its body recover. The badger in this illustration may look friendly, but real wildlife does not understand that humans are trying to help. Keep the box securely closed and handle the animal only when absolutely necessary. Minimise noise, movement and contact, and provide somewhere quiet, dark and safe for it to rest and recover.
Frequently Asked Questions After Admissions of a Patient
Thank you for helping wildlife in need. We understand how much you may care about the animal you have brought to us—and how difficult it can be to wait for news. Please be assured that every patient receives the care, peace and attention it needs.
How can I request an update?
Please wait at least 10 days before requesting an update. This gives our veterinary and rehabilitation teams time to assess the patient properly, begin treatment and allow it to rest. When emailing us, please include the animal’s patient reference number in the subject line, if you have it. If you do not have the reference number or name of the patient please include your full name, the date you brought the patient to us and the species. This information will help us locate the correct patient as quickly as possible.
Will I be told that the animal arrived safely?
Yes. Once the animal has been admitted and registered as a patient, we will send you a confirmation email. If you have not received it, please check your spam or junk folder. Admissions and communications are managed by our dedicated team of reception volunteers. During especially busy periods, there may be a short delay while every patient is safely assessed and admitted to our veterinary hospital. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Can the animal be returned to me for release?
Every release is considered individually, with the animal’s welfare coming first. Our veterinary and rehabilitation teams agree on a release plan during the patient’s pre-release review. They consider the animal’s health, behaviour, ability to survive independently, original territory, habitat and species-specific needs. If the animal is suitable for release at your property, we will contact you using the details provided when it was admitted.
Orphaned Wildlife
Young orphaned animals need specialised care to help them develop the skills they would normally learn from their parents. They progress through species-appropriate rearing and soft-release programmes, allowing them to adjust gradually to life in the wild before becoming fully independent. For this reason, orphaned wildlife is generally not returned to the finder. Although saying goodbye can be difficult, giving the animal the best possible chance of a successful life in the wild is the greatest kindness.
Adult Wildlife
Whenever it is safe and appropriate, adult animals are returned to their established home territory after completing treatment and rehabilitation and being assessed as fit for release.Sometimes an animal cannot safely return to the place where it was found. Its injury, individual needs, habitat conditions or other environmental risks may mean that a carefully chosen alternative release site offers it a better chance of survival. Whatever the final plan, every decision is made with the animal’s welfare and future firmly at heart.
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