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Helping Hedgehogs |
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APPROACH |
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Every wild animal has an inbuilt ‘flee’ instinct triggered at various distances to your approach. An injured animal that is still mobile will attempt to flee and may further endanger itself. Take the following precautions :- |
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1. Try to approach from the direction of the carriageway so if the animal flees it will head for the safety of the roadside and not the carriageway. |
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2. Bend your knees and make you frame appear as small as possible. |
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3. Approach very slowly. Stopping occasionally to assess the animal’s reaction. You will be able to judge when it steels itself to flee. |
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4. Talk to it quietly - this will not relax it but prevents your approach being a surprise that might spark the ‘flee’ response. |
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5. If the animal does flee, note where it has gone so that any rescue teams can try to follow it. |
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6. If a rescue centre is called please wait with the animal or at the site until the rescue team arrives. This applies even if the animal dies. |
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CAPTURE |
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An unconscious animal can, obviously, be readily captured but one that can still move will be very elusive. These tips might help:- |
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1. Birds are very difficult to catch with bare hands. An old coat, blanket or cardboard box will help if thrown over the casualty. An ideal catching tool is an angler’s landing net. And remember you will probably not catch a bird that can fly. |
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2. Hedgehogs and toads can be easily picked up but the coat, blanket or box will be very useful for rabbits, squirrels and other small mammals. |
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3. Large mammals, like deer, badgers, foxes and others should simply be covered by a coat or blanket. In non-motorway situations park your car with its hazard lights flashing in a position protecting it from other traffic. Do not try to move the animal and do not park alongside it. Go to the nearest phone and call a wildlife rescue centre or the police who will have knowledge of local facilities. |
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HANDLING |
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All wild casualties are going to be frightened and most will attempt to defend themselves if you try to pick them up. When picking up any animal hold it firmly and don’t let it struggle. Make sure you have somewhere to put it and that it is open and ready to receive the casualty. This may be the boot of the car, a cardboard box or a sack but with your hands full you won’t be able to open it after you have picked up the casualty. |
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