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Wildlife

We deal with hundred's of wildlife casualties every year;

After collecting the casualty we take them to our vets for treatment, they then come back to us for rehabilitation before going on to be released. Of course its not always a good result for every animal we are called out for after being hit by a car, lorry, van etc, it causes terrible injuries like animals with broken backs. If the animal can be saved and have a quality of life everything is possible is done, but with some the kindest thing to do is to put them to sleep. Road traffic accidents can vary from foxes, badgers, deer (mainly muncjac occasionally others), swans, rabbits, hedgehogs etc in fact all species of wildlife.

We are the local contact for the British hedgehog preservation society and last year dealt with 265. Often arriving with injuries, orphaned being covered in fleas, ticks and fly strike. On arriving they get treatment for fleas etc. weighed and wormed. If they arrive with open fractures to their limbs they go to the vets to see whether amputation is an option, and if it is a closed fracture then they would see if orthopaedic surgery can save the limb. If it's a dog that has attacked, the wounds are cleaned out and antibiotics are prescribed, if they are rescued quickly they stand more chance they can make a good recovery.

In late autumn when hedgehogs get ready to hibernate  we get many brought in that are not up to the 550 grams they need to be to have the chance to survive hibernation, so we over winter look after them to be released the in the next spring. In 2009 we had 45 hedgehogs over winter with us. The Spring season brings with it many species of orphaned birds requiring hand rearing. We also deal with birds that have been the victim of injuries by car or cats etc. Last year we dealt with 56 swans varying from landing on roads when mistaking it for a stretch of water, they need removing, checking over if they are ok and if ok releasing in a safer area.

Most swan and waterfowl calls without any doubt are fishing tackle related. We are forever removing line and hooks from a great number of birds. A few calls a year are related to attacks by people. they are often shot with air rifle pellets or attacked with dog chains and often resulting in fatal consequences. A good many calls are swans hitting power cables causing horrific injuries and usually certain death. We are the local contact for the swan sanctuary. We have now also been made the local contact for tiggywinkles. A lot of people seem to think that vets treat wildlife for free, but wildlife vets fee's cost animals in need thousands of pounds every year.

For an example:

- Hedgehog limb amputate is £130.00.
- Hedgehog with lung worm is about £20.00.
- A Swan needing surgery to remove a swallowed fishing hook is about 150.00 plus.
- A swan compound fracture, x-rays, painkillers and dressing around £200.00.

If you could help us to help them please donate to Paypal, or send a cheque to Animals In Need PO Box 145, Northampton, NN1 3AQ.