Words by Cathryn
We are a nation of animal lovers and this extends to our beloved wildlife found throughout the UK. In Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire we are fortunate to have an abundance of wildlife on our doorstep. Occasionally we might encounter animals that need assistance and, while we strive to help every patient, wildlife care is highly specialised and falls outside our area of expertise.
It is important that we don’t compromise their wellbeing and therefore it is crucial that everyone knows how to help and who to contact in such situations.
In case you encounter injured wildlife, we’ve compiled a simple checklist below, to guide you through the process.
1. Check it is safe to approach the animal
If it is not safe, contact a local wildlife charity for further assistance. If there is a risk to the public, please call 111.
2. Secure the animal
If attempting to secure the animal causes distress or potentially further injury, we wouldn’t recommend trying to catch it. If you cannot secure the animal but feel intervention is still necessary, contact a local wildlife charity.
3. Check for signs of illness or injury
Once the animal is safe and secured, check it over for any obvious signs of illness or injury such as lethargy or a broken limb. If there are no apparent signs, it is essential to return the animal to its original location.
4. If obviously sick or injured…
Bring the animal to the practice so we can assess it and determine the best course of action. It is important to call ahead to the practice so we can prepare for your arrival and facilitate the animal’s care.
5. Triage
Upon arrival at the practice, we’ll ask you to ask wait while our Veterinary Team triages the animal. There are three possible outcomes after triage:
1. No injury or illness – you’ll be asked to return the animal to its original location.
2. An injury or illness that is treatable – you’ll be advised to contact a local wildlife charity for further assistance.
3. An injury or illness that is not treatable – one of our Veterinary Surgeons will perform humane euthanasia.
To ensure that there are no delays or risks compromising the wellbeing of the patient, there are never any charges to finders for consultations regarding triage, euthanasia or the cremation of wildlife.
Handy links to local charities:
RSPCA
Woody’s Wildlife Rescue
Unity Wildlife Rehabilitation and Welfare
Raptor Foudnation
Tiggy Winkles Wildlife Hospital
Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital
Wildlife Trust
If you couldn’t find what you were looking for or have any further questions, please find our contact details here. Our team will be happy to assist you.
