Wildlife in practice

Re: Wildlife in practice

Stella Skelton RVN — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:38:09 GMT

to actually administer fluids also needs to be done by a qualified person too...

Re: Wildlife in practice

Rachel Jayne — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:50:40 GMT

Kinda loosley related to this thread - I'm getting a bit rusty on the rules relating to treatment of wildlife....I knew about the grey squirrel legislation, but with regards to general treatment of injured wildlife, part of me is thinking there aren't rules insisting that treatment must be authorised/administered by a vet...?

I've been my fair share of Animal Planet since starting Maternity, and currently have Wildlife SOS (following Wildlife Aid in Surrey on).

They've just been presented by a little badger cub in a semi-comatosed state, that has been attacked by a dog they think, the member of the public is crying, claiming her local vets turned her away saying there was nothing they could do for it, which I appreciate, although they probably could have just PTS it....

However, the nurse & a 'volunteer' take it through to examine, and the volunteer asks if they should put it on fluids, there is no mention of getting it examined by a vet (I know they do have one there sometimes) so they begin clipping up it's legs trying to get a cephalic vein, and end up placing a catheter IP to give fluids...

I know they do good work, and they're only trying to help, and it doesn't seem like much, but the last time I checked, all fluids were still POM-V...
Haven't seen if they give it anymore treatment yet. I have seen other, older, episodes, where they're routinely administering ab's and nsaids and even propofol for GA's, seemingly with no vet on site...

Re: Wildlife in practice

Stella Skelton RVN — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:47:16 GMT

If it's generally well we refer it to the wildlife centres...we've had a lot of baby hedgehogs recently and the hedgehog centre came to collect them all with minimal difficulty i think...they then get re-released...

Re: Wildlife in practice

J.R. Rimmer RVN — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:43:12 GMT

In our practice it obviously depends on the state of the animal, we've got a little wood pigeon in at the moment, he's got no tail feathers, and quite a large scab over his back - we think he's met a hungry cat or something similar!! So we're just keeping him in at the moment and he's happy enought, just until he get some of his feathers back. He can't fly at all at themoment, he's got a very strong flap, but just no lift. He's a real cutie and we can't wait to see him fly away and become a real bird!! I quite like having some wildlife coming in as i find it quite interesting, although some of the vets would rather just put the animals to sleep regardless of the state they are in, which I find a little harsh.

Re: Wildlife in practice

Rapunzel — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:53:33 GMT

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to release a grey squirrel because, as has been said, it is a non native species. However, many wildlife rehab centres, including the RSPCA wildlife hospitals, have a licence from English Nature which allow a small number to be released each year post rehabilitation.

Re: Wildlife in practice

Emma Purnell — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:35:00 GMT

I believe you can treat but not release them. Most people therefore euthanase them as soon as they come in.

Re: Wildlife in practice

emmRAR — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:35:25 GMT

[quote user="SmegSlayer"]

I heard it was the law that all grey squirrels brought into a practice had to be euthanased on them being a non-indigenous (and vermin) species, regardless of state of health?

[/quote]

I thought that you could legally treat them but have to have a licence to release them?

Re: Wildlife in practice

SmegSlayer — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:45:20 GMT

I heard it was the law that all grey squirrels brought into a practice had to be euthanased on them being a non-indigenous (and vermin) species, regardless of state of health?

Re: Wildlife in practice

Kim Buckley — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:15:25 GMT

I live 5 mins from Tiggys so easy for me.

If I didn't I would give things a shot. My dad reared a sparrow when I was younger. Her name was Spud and she went on to have babies of her own!

Re: Wildlife in practice

Steph Worsley — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:14:41 GMT

ah wood pigeons are different....not quite the flying rats that occupy my area!!!

i understand what you mean regarding the squiggles in your area but do still stand by my views

Re: Wildlife in practice

Emma Purnell — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:04:47 GMT

Steph, I do know what you mean.

I used to be an Ecologist, so I understand about the red/grey arguement. If there was a red squirrel reserve near me I would probably share the same opinion - the squirrel I would release at that point would make a significant difference to the red squirrel population in all likelyhood.

However, by where I am there are no red squirrels, lots and lots of greys and there is no plan to cull the greys so a single individual will have no negative impact in the area.

Pigeons are a tough one, luckily we see so few proper pigeons - just lots of woodies!

Re: Wildlife in practice

Steph Worsley — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:58:22 GMT

I'm probably going to get shot down by saying this but i dont believe squirrels should be released

I live not far from a red squirrel reserve where they are trying to bring red squirrel population up again and they try their hardestb to get our native animals up and running and breeding.

i actually think the same of pigeons

but remember folks these are just my personal opinions!

Re: Wildlife in practice

Emma Purnell — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:49:23 GMT

[quote user="Janet Frame"]

If you think it has a chance to survive, refer it to a wildlife center. They are set up to look after the wild animals, and they usually will have other orphaned squirrels at the same time so the squirrel can learn to be a squirrel and hopefully be released successfully.

[/quote]

Where we are it is not always that easy to send them to a wildlife centre. All the local places are either small, individual run centres I have had bad experiences with or involve myself or a client making around a 100 mile journey. I am planning to contact them about this guy once I can afford to get more petrol and have time as I am working and on call this weekend so can't do the trip.

I was thinking more of in general, what people do and their experiences.

This year so far I have had 7 wood pigeons, 2 collared doves, 2 blackbirds, 2 green finches, a sparrow, a kingfisher, a red-legged partridge and 2 swifts plus a grass snake. I also had 3 hedgehogs last year, 1 who overwintered with me as my local hedgehog rescue didn't have space so asked if I could keep her!

Re: Wildlife in practice

Vicky RVN — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:47:34 GMT

Our 'whoops we left the cage open how did that happen' squirrel was called Squidge He was so cool

Re: Wildlife in practice

Maisy — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:45:22 GMT

My last practice was nearish to a few wildlife centres (St Tiggs and Wildlife Aid), both of which were extremely helpful at taking in orphans/treatable cases or offering advise. For larger creatures like grown deer and badgers St Tiggs would collect whereas it wasn't possible for WA to do so, therefore would use Tiggs for these. Smaller animals I would generally take there myself rather than ask for collections as it was about an hour either side for both charities.

May get shot down for this but if squirrels were otherwise healthy, then they would have whatever treatment was needed and then would be released. Not everyones opinion and I know we shouldn't be releasing greys....Same goes with pigeons/crows and other 'pests'.

PS still think squirrel should be called Cyril - it goes without saying!!

Re: Wildlife in practice

Vicky RVN — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:44:14 GMT

Meant to say, we'll take things to a suitable wildlife place according to what they are/where will take them for them to rehab them.

Re: Wildlife in practice

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:43:02 GMT

Re: Wildlife in practice

Nicola Russell — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:42:58 GMT

At a wildlife rescue centre I volunteered at, pigeons and grey squirrels were treated and released once they had recovered, even hand reared.

Re: Wildlife in practice

Vicky RVN — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:42:47 GMT

Emma you are not mad! I have hand reared pigeons as well as other birds, then released them from my garden. My favourite has to be Venus....

She was super friendly and hung around our garden for ages

Then there was Herman...

He was released from my garden and came back to feed every night for ages.

And there was Amy...

So yeah, we give them a go if it's viable. With birds my dad would convert our shed into a temporary aviary until things can be released. Or at work we have outdoor kennels which are only ever used for wildlife, which we make into aviaries. I can't take things home like i used to now that i have Jack, they'd get freaked out by him running around the garden/house!