If you CAN do so safely, and manage to capture a sick or injured creature:

• keep it in a quiet place
• keep it in the dark
• keep it warm
• keep it confined
• give it access to water, if practical

If you CAN’T capture an injured or sick creature:

• take a note of its exact location
• if possible, leave someone there to watch over it while you call us and get help

These guidelines are intended for emergency care of casualties until they can be taken to a specialist rehabilitation centre. It is vitally important to remember that you are dealing with a wild creature and that handling will cause stress, leading to possible death, therefore keep handling to a minimum and keep children and pets well away

BIRDS

The most likely cause of death in a captured wild bird is stress. In order to limit this the following should be adhered to:

• Keep the bird in a small, dark container with a lid and ventilation
• Put the container somewhere warm and quiet and do not be tempted to keep checking on it
• If it is necessary to look at the bird, do not stare straight at the bird as this is how a predator will behave and cause the bird additional stress. Either close one eye or turn your head to one side
• Most birds will survive for some hours without food but need water. If you have an adult or juvenile bird that is feeding itself and you expect to be caring for it for some while, leave food and a shallow bowl of water in the container.
• When transporting a bird, place it in as small a container as possible with towelling or crushed paper to prevent buffeting
• If using a towel or similar to catch a bird, try to use a natural coloured one e.g. brown or green

Orphans

Most fledgling or nestling passerines (garden birds) will readily gape for food and will require feeding hourly from dawn til dusk from a small paintbrush or tweezers and if not fully feathered will need some additional heat

SMALL MAMMALS

• If the casualty is injured, put it into a small container with padding for support ie old towelling, to limit it’s mobility and prevent causing further injury
• Always provide a small container of water – never milk
• Give the casualty somewhere to hide, ie old towelling etc.
• If the animal feels cold, put in a hotwater bottle wrapped in towelling etc.
• Keep the animal in a warm, quiet room away from pets and children
• Never use flea treatments especially on hedgehogs

Orphans

• Infant mammals are unable to retain body heat, so it is important to provide artificial heat, ie a covered hot water bottle
• Offer the orphan boiled water from a dropper taking great care not to overfeed or feed too quickly
• Never give milk as mammals, except cows and humans, are unable to digest the lactose

EMERGENCY DIETS

• Most birds will eat wildbird seed or mashed cat food (not fish), raw mince, bread or biscuit crumbs, scrambled or hard boiled egg, but always ensure water is available
• Fledglings will take a moist paste of cat food and hard boiled egg mashed with water
• Birds of prey will need chicks or mice, so are best left if these are not available. If really necessary, raw mince will suffice
• Ducks, geese and swans can have bread in a large bowl of water
• Rabbits and hares will eat grass, dandelion, cow parsley, pet rabbit food, never give lettuce
• Give hedgehogs cat or dog food (not fish)
• Squirrels can have a few peanuts (unsalted) or domestic rabbit or hamster food
• Mice will eat more or less anything and cereals, biscuits or bread are usually readily available

USEFUL ITEMS TO HAVE BY

• Always keep a small box and towel in the boot of your car, you never know when you will come across a casualty
• A pillow case with one corner cut off to cover a deer’s head, this will calm it (Allow it’s nose to protrude through the hole)
• A covered plastic or cardboard box with newspaper and towelling to contain a casualty at home
• An empty plastic lemonade bottle filled with warm water and put into a thick sock or wrapped in towelling makes a good hot water bottle
• An icecream or margarine container with crumpled kitchen paper makes a suitable nest for fledglings and a feather duster becomes a foster mum
• A soft cuddly toy will provide some comfort to an orphan
• A lone duckling or chick will think it’s got company if you give it a mirror
• A small paintbrush or a pair of blunt tweezers are ideal for feeding fledgling birds

Note – We do not advise the general public to handle large mammals such as deer, foxes and badgers as they are capable of causing serious injury. On finding one of the above injured, we would suggest making a detailed note of the location or better still leave someone with the creature until you can summon specialist assistance