Injured wildlife advice

As your local Wildlife Trust we survey, monitor, conserve and campaign for wildlife across the region; lobbying Government and working on your doorstep to give wildlife a voice and protect important wild spaces. What we don't do, however, is take in injured wildlife.

Unfortunately we aren't a wildlife rescue, and we don't have the facilities or the expertise to nurse birds, hedgehogs and other creatures back to health.

So, what should you do if you find a sick or injured animal?

It all depends on the kind of animal you have found and what appears to be wrong with it. Below, you can find advice about what to do next in some of the most common situations, and crucially, who to contact to make sure the animal gets the help it needs as soon as possible.

To find your nearest wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre please scroll to the bottom of the page.

It isn't uncommon to find baby birds on the ground during nesting season. If it has no feathers, or very few feathers, it is a nestling that is too young to be out of the nest. It may have fallen out, so see if you can see the nest. Only return the bird if you are absolutely sure you have found the right nest, and only if the nestling is healthy. If you can’t find the nest or the chick is visibly poorly, take it safely to a professional wildlife rescue (numbers at the bottom of this page).

If you find a bird that is more or less fully feathered, it is a fledgling that has taken its first brave flight. Fledglings can't actually fly properly when they first leave the nest and may spend up to a week near the ground, so please don't be worried. The parents will be off gathering food or watching from a safe distance. Unless the fledgling is visibly sick or injured please leave it well alone. If it is near the road, on a path or in another dangerous place, gently pick it up and move it to a sheltered spot as nearby as possible. If the fledgling is definitely injured or obviously unwell, transport it safely home and call your local wildlife rescue.

If you have found an adult bird that is struggling to fly, can't walk or is visibly sick or injured in another way, please call your local wildlife rescue for advice. Small birds like blue tits and blackbirds can be safely taken home while you call the rescue, but larger birds need specialist handling and are best left alone to avoid unnecessary stress.

It can be exciting to see a hedgehog out and about in the daytime, but this is actually a sign that the hog isn't very well at all. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and don't venture out in the daytime unless they're poorly or malnourished, so it's crucial to get help as soon as possible or the hog may die. Look out for them looking disoriented, struggling to walk or showing little fear of humans.

Keep a close eye on the hedgehogs in your garden. Like with hedgehogs seen out during the daytime, take action if you spot a hog that is visibly struggling.

Unfortunately, garden hedgehogs often fall victim to horrific fire or strimmer injuries. Please check bonfires, piles of leaves and grass for hedgehogs before lighting or tidying up, and if you do accidentally injure one, call your local hedgehog rescue as soon as possible.

You can find some contact details at the bottom of this page, or visit The British Hedgehog Preservation Society website for details of local volunteers who can offer first aid advice and contact details for a hedgehog rescue in your area.

Any bat that is found on the ground or in an exposed area - especially during the day - is likely to need help. However, please bear in mind that bats have special protections and must only be handled by professional bat officers.

If the bat is on the ground, on an outside wall, or in another exposed area where it could be vulnerable, try to get it into a box that contains a clean dishcloth where the bat can hide. Place the box over the bat and slide a piece of card underneath it, like you would with a spider. If you must handle the bat to get it into the box, wear gloves or use a tea towel to gently scoop it up. You should never handle a bat with your bare hands.

Once the bat is safely contained, pop a milk bottle lid full of water into the box and call the National Bat Helpline on 0345 1300 228. Click here for more advice from the Bat Conservation Trust.

Don't panic if you find a bat flying around in your house, and don't try to catch it (this could cause the bat unnecessary stress or injury). Instead, if it's a warm evening, close the door to the room, open the windows as widely as possible and dim the lights. This will give the bat a chance to find its own way out.

If you find the bat flying during the day, wait until it lands, contain it as we have described above, and release it at dusk. You can find more information on the Bat Conservation Trust's website.