Release the beast!

Last night I had the joy of releasing one of our many hedgehogs back into the wild. It is hugely satisfying to return an animal (no matter how small), back to its natural habitat.  Originally found underweight, dehydrated and out during a sunny afternoon, this little beast was far from healthy, and in no fit state to function successfully in the wild.

After much needed rest, recovery and recuperation, this prickly patient was healthy enough for release. Armed with a towel and a tin of puppy chum, I placed him amidst the undergrowth, surrounded by gardens in which he can forage and explore at his leisure, awesome experience!!

Sponsors of Stapeley's Summer Wildlife Assistant position

Hogblog

Many animals at Stapeley are small and furry, but I cannot overlook the cute and prickly!!

My earliest hedgehog memory is of Beatrix Potter’s Miss Tiggywinkle. In the back of my mind when handling these prickly hogs is the image of them wearing a mop cap and doing the laundry (read Miss Tiggywinkle for further info.)

With the ability to startle even the most experienced handler with sudden grunts and twitchy-jumps (behavioural defence mechanism; it’s not all about curling up into spiny balls you know!), the hedgehogs are weighed and monitored daily. Today I hand fed some of the smallest but not a mop cap in sight!!

Sponsors of Stapeley's Summer Wildlife Assistant Positions

Education at Stapeley

Finally got to meet Anna from CJ Wildlife last week, she was busy with the team from CJ in the education garden. They have done an amazing job and the garden is really coming along; it will be amazing to see the kids back here at Stapeley.  Education is essential long term if we are to improve on current animal welfare standards both locally and Nationally, whether it be for domestic and farm animals or wildlife.  Understanding and appreciating wildlife has to begin at home with respect for our dogs, cats and other family pets and hopefully this will programme will help nurture this philosophy with locals schools, after school and holiday clubs, scouts, brownies and all other interested groups.

The team here have two months to get everything ready before the first school group arrives and an official opening, thankfully we have lots of volunteers on hand to help out. Chester University and Reaseheath College students have been on hand to bolster the teams coming in from CJ Wildlife so our dream of getting our education programme up and running again will soon become a reality.  For more information on how to bring a group contact us: education-stapeley@rspca.org.uk

Sponsor's of Stapeley's Summer Assistant Position

A Swan Shower

Good ole' Fairy Liquid, 'for hands that do dishes' or in this case... swans! The swan had arrived at Stapeley covered in some unknown greasy substance that would have diminished its natural waterproofing. A thorough soapy rinse was now needed to stimulate its own oils and waterproofing. I was then decked out in my wellies, apron, gloves and sexy plastic trousers; I looked like I was ready to head out to sea on a fishing trawler!

So began a lesson in appropriate restraining technique, correct method of washing, and identification of the primary, secondary, scapular and auxiliary feathers... the swan is now cleaner, brighter and with restored natural waterproofing! It won't be long before he is returned to the wild after his short visit to Stapeley.

Sponsors of Stapeley's summer assistant position

Feeding, feeding and more feeding

The work for the Stapeley team is varied throughout the day but much of it revolves around feeding. No matter what you are doing; cleaning enclosures, preparing/administering medications, examining the animals, admitting new ones, dealing with members of the public, filling in record cards, (the list goes on....), it is ALL interrupted by feeding, particular the small orphaned birds, which are on the hour every hour for 13 hrs a day!!

                          

Our walk-in fridge is a sight to behold...mice, chicks, fish, mealworms (and of course a bit of salad), are all stored in there.  Today I fed our orphaned tawny owls, (for vegetarians, read no more)...chopped up mouse...mmmmm!


Also check out these cuties


http://bit.ly/Mm1Mkz and http://bit.ly/N8G8ot (Common Buzzards)


And


http://bit.ly/Lzn8fa (Hoglet feeding time)

Sponsors of Stapeley's Summer Assistant Position

Fox Micro-chipping

Heard the expression ‘As strong as an ox’? I am changing this descriptive to ‘As strong as  a fox’....Today I assisted with the micro-chipping of our young foxes, in preparation for their release back to the wild later in the year. I restrain the fox on a flat surface, Rob injects the microchip...hey presto, job done, yes?   NO!  I cannot explain their strength! It took two of us to hold one down and all of my strength to keep it in place.

                                

    

You may view the photograph as a little unfair, one grown adult vs. a little harmless young fox...let me tell you... Do not underestimate the power and agility of a smallish, soft, furry, cutesy, juvenile fox!  One slip of my hand and I would have been the one presently micro-chipped....awesome experience.  Find out what happens to our foxes later in the year.

 

Sponsors of Stapeley's Summer Assistant Position

Ducklings...

I defy anyone when faced with an abundance of small, fluffy, yellow and brown cheeping ducklings, to not let out a collective ‘Aaaahhh’!  They are too cute for words.

In all seriousness, the amount of orphan ducklings (100's) that find their way into Stapeley at this time of year never ceases to amaze me. Ducklings, cygnets, goslings; they occupy an entire room at the hospital. Indoors they are given a chance to grow stronger, bask under the heat lamp, huddle with their siblings and enjoy the close comfort of a surrogate mother (usually a soft toy!). When at last they possess some protective feathering, they are moved outdoors where they get to hang out with the ‘big’ ducks!!

                                     

 

Day 1 at Stapeley - a noisy affair

Hello there! My name is Lynsey and I shall be reporting (via this blog) over the next four months about my animal encounters and the goings on here at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Hospital. Its only with CJ Wildlife's funding that I am at Stapeley this year. This is a great opportunity for me and having worked here for the past couple of years I know what a big difference having an extra summer placement will have to the running of the Centre over what is an extremely busy 4 months for the team.

I have spent much of today in the corvid room and am loving the juvenile jackdaws with their fuzzy grey heads! On entering their enclosure with food I am faced with nearly 20 of the cheeky critters all squawking hysterically, bright red mouths gaping, landing on my shoulders and arms (cue music from Alfred Hitchcocks’ The Birds), in attempt to be fed first. The noise (without ear defenders) is truly deafening, yet quite comical. On exiting the room with buzzing ears, I asked one of the staff a question, her initial response....‘Why are you shouting at me?!’ .