RSPCA: A busy 2009 for RSPCA wildlife rescue

Tuesday, 29 December 2009 12:00 AM

From a couple of blonde hedgehogs, to a fox with its head stuck in a jar, and a duck with glasses on, it's been a busy year of wildlife rescues for the RSPCA.

Over 50% of animal rescues undertaken by the Society in 2009 involved wildlife and whilst most of those were what some might call routine, others were unique.

RSPCA Wildlife Rehab Co-ordinator, Adam Grogan said "All four of our wildlife centres across the UK have had an incredibly busy year rehabilitating, releasing and in some cases tracking wildlife. Our inspectors and animal collection officers (ACOs) have also been busy dealing with a huge array of wildlife incidents."

"In February Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre admitted one of Britain's rarest and most elusive birds, a Bittern, after a member of public spotted it looking underweight in a street in Preston. It was fantastic to have been able to rescue such a rare and enigmatic bird and get it back to full health; for species like the bittern every individual counts. It was released at an RSPB reserve and has been spotted in the wild every month since."

Stapeley Grange was also the focus of attention in May when staff there nursed back to health two incredibly rare blonde hedgehogs and released them at historic sites in the North of England.

In July a confused fox cub was found by a member of the public in London with a jar firmly jammed on his head. It appeared that he had stuck his nose inside to get at the contents and then couldn't get out again Two RSPCA animal collection officers arrived at the scene and managed to free him from the jar and he was released without injury.

An RSPCA chief inspector in the West region had an electrifying September, after being called to rescue two deer in one week that were both found entangled in electric fencing. With their antlers entangled in the electric wires, it made for distressing scenes, but on both occasions, the deer were set free unharmed.

In November the RSPCA rescued a duck wearing a pair of plastic glasses around its neck. Inspectors and animal welfare officers attended and rescued the duck using a boat and specialist nets. It was taken to a nearby vet where the frames were removed and antibiotics prescribed to help heal the wound. The lucky duck was later re-released locally.

East Winch Wildlife Centre has also been busy this year after the terrible storms in the North that brought flooding. They rescued many abandoned seals pups and continue to rehabilitate and release them when they're back up to the correct weight.

Adam added "Thankfully all of these stories had a happy ending and illustrate the huge array of wildlife we rescue and care for. Who knows what surprises await us in 2010, but we'd like to thank the public for their continuing support of the work the RSPCA does for wildlife."

-ends-

Tags: