Terry Whittaker/2020 Vision
Wildlife advice
From sick or injured animals to reporting wildlife crimes, this page can help advise you on the best action to take.
While we're not able to take in or provide care for injured wildlife, there are a number of nearby wildlife and species-specific hospitals below who can take in injured animals and answer your queries.
Please note, links on this page do not include South Gloucestershire and this is a separate unitary authority (part of the old Avon county).
If you cannot find the answer below, the HelpWildlife.co.uk directory is a searchable directory of over 600 wildlife rescue organisations and independent rescuers across the UK. To search for a wildlife rescue near you, enter your location and click search. You’ll be shown a map and list of rescues within 40 miles.
Wildlife hospitals
Wildlife hospitals take in and care for orphaned, injured or sick wildlife with the aim of releasing animals back into the wild when they are fit and healthy.
Vale Wildlife Hospital
RSPCA Oak & Furrows Rescue
Operating 24/7, 365 days a year.
Blakehill Nature Reserve, Malmesbury Road, Cricklade, SN6 6RH
For animal emergencies you can contact them by ringing 01793 751412, or by emailing info@oandf.co.uk
North Cotswolds - Worcestershire Leveret Rescue
Leverets are the name given to young hares. Not all leverets found will be abandoned - they're left unattended hiding in their forms (scrapings that they nestle into, covered by long grasses) until their mother returns to feed them. This can be once or twice a day, usually at dawn or dusk.
Covering the Worcestershire and surrounding areas, please contact them for advice before a rescue is attempted.
You can contact Emily George, veterinary nurse, 24/7 on 07535164580 or by emailing leveretrescuer01@myyahoo.com. If your call goes to voicemail, please leave a message and someone will respond as soon as possible. Do not message any casualties via social media - these platforms are not monitored frequently or used for this purpose.
The National Bat Helpline
The National Bat Helpline are a small team devoted to 'helping people, helping bats'.
They can help if you have found a bat in need of rescue, need advice about works or pest control, reporting bat crime or if have any concerns about your bat roost.
They have compiled their most frequently requested advice online here.
Hedgehog hospitals
We cannot take in ill or injured hedgehogs, so please don’t delay treatment by contacting us in an emergency situation. Please contact one of the local hedgehog rescue centres below directly.
We've also listed our tips below for how to transport them if necessary.
Wild Hogs Hedgehog Rescue
Admissions are by appointment only. If you find a hedgehog, you can ring them for advice and to arrange an appointment.
Address
The Street, Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucester, GL2 7EA
Contact details
07949 976 717
wildhogshedgehogrescue@gmail.com
www.wildhogshedgehogrescue.org.uk
Help a Hedgehog Hospital
Address
Ardmore, Bourne Lane, Brimscombe, Stroud, GL5 2RQ
Contact details
01453 886 424
enquiries@helpahedgehog.org
www.helpahedgehog.org
Brockworth Hedgehog Rescue
Contact details
07789 268 296
brockworthhedgehogrescue@outlook.com
www.brockworthhedgehogrescue.co.uk
How to transport an injured hedgehog
Contact the professionals
If dealing with an emergency, such as a road casualty it may be necessary to contact or take the hedgehog directly to a local vet. In all other situations contact a local rescue centre for advice on what to do in your particular situation.
Stay calm and quiet
Avoid talking to the hedgehog or making eye contact - they're wild animals and will not realise that you are trying to help it, perceiving you as a giant predator. As with any wild animal, they're highly susceptible to stress and may go into potentially fatal shock, particularly when being handled whilst sick or injured.
Avoid direct contact
To pick up or move a hedgehog in need of help, avoiding direct contact will protect you and the hedgehog. Use gardening gloves, a towel or other item of clothing to pick it up and move it.
Create a Safe Space
A pet carrier or a cardboard box lined with newspaper and with a good air supply will work well temporarily, but avoid plastic boxes as these do not breathe well and heat up quickly.
A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel, plus extra towels (without looped washing instructions which may tangle around a foot or toe), will be useful to help regulate their body temperature and cushion an injured or sick hedgehog or hoglet – but be careful the box does not become too warm.
You can provide some fresh water and meaty cat or dog food, but don't try to feed them directly.
Don't pester them
If you're not immediately transporting the hedgehog to emergency care, place the box into a quiet, dark room. It may be tempting to keep ‘checking’ the casualty, but do not disturb them unless asked to do so.
Don’t be tempted to try to care for the hedgehog yourself – although your intentions may be good, they need expert help.
Other wildlife advice and information
If you query isn't answered below, please do get in touch by emailing info@gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk or calling 01452 383 333.
Reporting wildlife crimes
If you witness a wildlife crime or suspect that one has taken place, please contact the Gloucestershire Constabulary.
Bees and swarms
Please contact local beekeeping associations such as the Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association.
Environmental pollution incidents
To report an incident, for example a chemical spill or fly-tipping, contact the Environment Agency hotline.
Wildlife identification
Our species explorer page is a brilliant way to help you identify a species you've discovered, whether you saw it out and about or in your garden at home.
Another useful website for wildlife identifications is iSPot, which covers the UK and Ireland.
Got a wildlife sighting you’d like to report? Visit GCER (the Gloucestershire Centre for Environmental Records) and report a sighting to add to the most comprehensive source of information for wildlife in the county.