Ways to Support Your Local Wildlife Rescue
Nearly all wildlife casualties in England these days are due to a few reasons. So by learning of them, we then know how to prevent wildlife rescue shelters being overcrowded with casualties.
Learn of each species (birds and wildlife) to avoid ‘accidentally rescuing’ creatures that have parents watching nearby. Also read our post on how to stop birds flying into windows.
- Don’t drop litter. Use a bin, and car trash bin.
- Use a personal ashtray. This puts out cigarettes, until you find a bin.
- Use a Monomaster (stores fishing tackle until you find a recycling bin). Obey the voluntary ban on lead shot (which kills wildfowl).
- Wildlife-friendly ponds have sloping sides, and are free from netting. Ensure water bowls have shallow sides (add a small wood plank or stones, as platforms for bees and butterflies).Cover swimming pools when not in use, especially at night. FrogLog lets small critters escape, and Critter Skimmer helps creatures escape from skimmers.
- Store rotary washing lines and footballs nets away, when not in use. The weatherproof Goal Wall is made from recycled plastic milk bottles, sold with extendable legs and ground pegs.
- Use fruit protection bags (over netting).
- No-dig gardening stops worms and stag beetles from injury. Also garden organically (read about pet-friendly gardens and non-toxic humane slug/snail deterrents.
- Check under sheds/outbuildings/compost bins before moving/demolition (especially near end of hibernation). Read building/planning info to help owls and bats.
- Don’t plant flowers in railings (deer can get their heads stuck).
- Donate old newspapers for lining cages, cleaning up and temporary bedding). Don’t donate glossy inserts or magazines.
- Some wildlife rescues accept leftover medical supplies (bandages, new syringes, disposable gloves etc). Never donate expired/opened medicines.
Make safer roads for wildlife. Keep to speed limits, be alert at dawn/dusk, use full beam at night (dipped lights are best in fog, rain or snow, or else light could reflect back and startle). Keep your car in good condition.
Who to Call (when wildlife needs help)
Keep a large box with punched holes in your car boot with towels (no tassels) and thick gloves. Then call wildlife rescues and rehabilitators. If you can’t get through, vets can take in creatures (you don’t have to pay).
Some creatures need specialist advice, so call:
- Tiggywinkles or Wildlife Aid (all creatures).
- British Hedgehog Preservation Society
- Bat Conservation Society
- Raptor Rescue (for birds of prey)
- Amphibian & Reptile Conservation
- British Marine Life Rescue
If you hit a large creature (deer, badger) or see one that’s injured, after calling wildlife rescue and RSPCA, also call the police (their trained marksmen can humanely shoot suffering creatures, if there is a long wait).
Don’t try to move live creatures yourself, most are strong and could run off, while needing help for internal injuries. Keep the area quiet, and cover the creature with a blanket until help arrives.
How to Raise Funds for Wildlife Rescues
- Offer practical skills (from volunteering to transport).
- Donate anonymously through Charities Aid Foundation, add Gift Aid if you’re a UK taxpayer).
- easyfundraising is another option (just sign up, then shops and services donate a portion of profits from each sale, to your chosen cause). Loyalty points are not affected.
- Donate the book How to Hold Animals.
- Gift a wildlife rescue manual to your shelter: Practical Wildlife Care (by the late founder of Tiggywinkles) and Wildlife Search & Rescue (a US book, with good generic advice).
- Donate an Armor Hand Protector (created by a vet, after an angry patient bit her! You can wash these to prevent infection with a microfibre filter.
