Teaching the public about wildlife...

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Emma Purnell — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:35:24 GMT

Yep, yep and yep! I am going to try getting in touch with the RSPB and get some things like that, otherwise I am planning to do my own leaflets saying the same things, but also letting people know when it IS ok to intervene. We had a baby squirrel brought in yesterday morning which they had been watching since Saturday but didn't know what to do with... it was almost dead by the time it got to us it was so dehydrated.

Also, for anyone peeking at this and interested in wildlife, what do you guys do about treating it in practice? We have just brought in new consent forms as up until recently the partners were not aware that any wildlife picked up became the 'property' of the owners and that full consent for any treatment must be gained...

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 10:11:39 GMT

leave tawny owlets alone that are found at the bottom of trees. They climb up and down!

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Rachel Jayne — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:55:20 GMT

What a fab idea

At my first practice, we used to have a poster in reception from the RSPB about leaving baby birds alone, maybe they would be a good contact for some literature?

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Kez S — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:51:20 GMT

[quote user="Katietaz"]

Deffo leave "abandoned" baby birds alone!!!

[/quote]

I have to agree. We've had a display up for about 2 years now on the handling of wildlife, but we still constantly get calls re: the ''abandonment'' of baby birds!

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Emma Purnell — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 18:52:00 GMT

I was going to focus on when we should and shouldn't interfere, but that is just as important, thank you. They don't seem to realise the danger to themselves, or the animals.

Our open day is not until the end of the year but I am putting things together now, so if you want anything if you decide to do it for your show please get in touch I have the birds and mammals that are a conservation risk with pictures already. Bit early!

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Tracy Windler RVN — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 18:47:09 GMT

I'm not sure how you would phrase it, but just general "handling" (or avoidance of!) wildlife. We had a an injured fox brought in by a "m.o.p" and they were cuddling it and saying how happy and relaxed it seemed. Not only was the poor thing petrified (but close to death), it still could have easily ripped their faces off! How do you educate people on the lack of interaction they should have with wildlife?

Its a great idea, though. Well done. Maybe we could add this to our topics at the local show/open day this year.

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Emma Purnell — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:26:23 GMT

Brilliant ideas guys - keep them coming! The more I can educate people the better all round...

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

Katie Mansfield — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 07:23:36 GMT

Deffo leave "abandoned" baby birds alone!!!

How about a list of British wildlife that's on the Red List? Found out last week the humble sparrow is endangered - I was gob-smacked.

K x

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

A Little TLC — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:35:20 GMT

OOh! NO the bread and milk for hedgehogs!!! Or baby animals, no cows milk!!!!

Re: Teaching the public about wildlife...

A Little TLC — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:34:20 GMT

Deffo leaving alone baby deer and leverets, unless obviously injured!!!! We get sooooooooooo many 'orphaned' babies brought in, when they are not!!!

And maybe thing about litter e.g. those plastic things round beer cans, getting caught round wildlife. And bottles and cans, little things go in and due to the shape of the bottle can't get out again and starve...... We have a poster campaign on this.....