Helping Wildlife - Do's and Don'ts
Despite heightened public awareness about ecology and conservation, wild animals in
A combination of human cruelty and irresponsibility has led to the orphaning of many young creatures, because their parents have been deliberately trapped or accidentally knocked down on the road, other creatures are caught or snagged in fences or netting, or cut themselves on tin cans or broken bottles.
In addition, continued house building and road construction mean that natural habitats are under constant threat.
As the wildlife death toll rises and habitats are eroded, it is important that we do what we can to help. This page contains some 'dos' and 'don'ts' about how to avoid endangering wildlife and what to do in an emergency.
Dos and Don’ts
Do be aware of everyday hazards, nets and netting left lying around are responsible for many injuries to hedgehogs, snakes and amphibians. Empty bottles and cans also pose a serious threat to wildlife.
Do check long grass for wildlife before using garden mowers or strimmers - these tools cause many horrific injuries, especially to hedgehogs and amphibians.
Don't cut hedges between February and May, as you could damage nests and injure young birds.
Do seek help and advice in an emergency (see 'Emergency Help Page) It might be a good idea to keep the number of Shanwell Wildlife Rescue to hand - near the phone at home, and stored in your mobile phone.
You could also carry a strong cardboard box (or pet carrier), a torch, a towel, high visability waistcoat and a pair of thick gardening gauntlets in the boot of your car, in case of an emergency.
Don't attempt to handle an injured badger, deer or fox. All these animals can severely injure humans. Instead, seek help. If the animal is lying in the road, you can protect it from further injury by parking your car behind it, using your hazard warning lights and, at night, front and rear lights - providing your car causes no serious obstruction to the highway.
With other wildlife, a useful rule of thumb is that if you can handle or pick up an animal, it probably needs help.
Baby deer (fawns) are an exception to this rule, however. Adult deer leave their young hidden in undergrowth for anything up to eight hours at a time, and they may well abandon fawns that are disturbed. If you are in any doubt, contact Shanwell Wildlife Rescue, which will ensure that the fawn is monitored until the mother returns. Fox cubs can also be left for a while by a vixen, so give the vixen a chance to return.
If you find a baby bird that has fallen out of its nest, keep it safe, using gloves to handle it, and seek advice.
Don't handle any injured animal more than is absolutely necessary. Wild creatures are not used to contact with humans, and talking to them and stroking them may only exacerbate their stress. Put injured animals somewhere quiet, dark and warm.
Do keep all birds away from your face. Long - beaked and long-necked birds (herons, gannets and grebes in particular) will peck at anything shiny - your eyes, for example.
Do watch out for the talons of birds of prey (owls, buzzards, kestrels, sparrowhawks, etc.), as these are their most dangerous weapons. If you need to pick up a bird of prey, throw a towel over it first and use thick gloves.
Don't be tempted to try to rear an orphaned bird or animal. Remember that you can't just let an orphan go once it can feed itself - rehabilitating an animal so that it is able to return to the wild can take several months.
Do move dead creatures off the highway, as they can attract scavengers, putting more wildlife -and road users - at risk. However, take great care that you don't risk, your own and others' safety in the process.
If you're not sure whether an animal is dead or not you can prod it gently with a long stick to see if there is any response.