What to do if you find an Injured or Deceased Animal, in the Park?
By Mary Collins
It is difficult when you find an injured or deceased wild animal or Duck/Goose/Swan in Platt Fields Park, so here’s some advice that might be useful in such an emergency.
Just a small but important, word of warning: Wild animals including ducks and other wildfowl can carry diseases that can harm humans, so try to avoid touching them, especially with bare hands. Proper care and handling cannot be emphasised enough! Do not put yourself in danger or risk worsening a situation with wildlife that maybe injured, sick and in distress.
In the first instance, try to contact Park Staff, who work in the Lakeside Centre. If they’re not available – here are organisations who are able to help.
Park Office/Security: 0161 224 2902
RSPB: 0300 1234 9999
RSPCA: RSPCA.org.uk
Every Feather and Wildlife Rescue: 07899 031 447
Tameside’s People 4 Wildlife: Email – peoplewildlife@gmail.com
Hedgehogs: take to a local vet.
Frogs: froglife.org
Bat Conservation Trust: 0345 1300 228.
Birds: Ducks, Geese & Swans
Birds have remarkable healing abilities, and with proper care and time, they can sometimes recover from minor fractures without human intervention. However, severe breaks or fractures may require veterinary care to ensure proper healing and to prevent complications such as infection or improper bone alignment. Don’t try and care for the bird yourself. Even though you mean well, you may harm its chances of survival. It’s best to let someone with training and experience handle it as they will be able to rehabilitate and release the bird when it’s strong and healthy.
Fledglings can usually be left alone but if a fledgling is injured or has been attacked or appears to be orphaned or separated from their parents, people should call the RSPCA for help.
Birds of prey (including swans, geese, herons, gulls and owls), if the bird is dead, please report it to DEFRA.
Hedgehogs
If you find a hoglet (a baby hedgehog) during the day they may need rescuing. Check the surrounding area to see if there are other hoglets as there are usually four or five in a litter.
Watch from a safe distance and only intervene if the hoglet is:
- In immediate danger
- Squeaking with eyes shut or huddled together with other hoglets in the open, without an adult nearby
- Next to a dead adult
- Weighing less than 300g (about the size of an apple) without an adult nearby
- Out during the day when it’s very cold
- Sick, injured or surrounded by flies
Young hedgehogs larger than an apple and seen at night should be fully weaned and ready to be independent of their parents so should be left alone.
Frogs & Toads
If you find a sick or injured frog or toad, you can further detailed information by reading this Froglife website page.
Bats
Bats can’t take off from the ground, so they’ll need help. They may be sick or injured too, so sometimes they will need to be checked by a vet or bat carer before they can be released. Bats need highly specialised care, so please don’t try to look after a sick or injured bat yourself. Instead, contact the Bat Conservation Trust on their website or by calling their helpline. They will tell you how you can help the bat, and how to handle and transport a bat safely.
You should avoid touching or handling bats unless it’s absolutely essential, and always wear thick gloves if you do need to handle them. If you think you might have been bitten or scratched by a bat, follow the Bat Conservation Trust’s advice as bats can carry diseases that can pass to humans.