I'm having a 'Raven' time - week three of my volunteering at Stapeley Grange

This week volunteering at RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre I assisted Michelle (Wildlife
Assistant) in Isolation where I met a beautiful fledgling Raven. The Raven currently being rehabilitated in Isolation was rescued from Wigan which is where I currently live and not far from the street that the Raven was rescued.  I have seen a few around Wigan but will be on the lookout for more now...they are so beautiful and clever.

Ravens are the biggest member of the crow family; they are very smart birds and are a popular resident here in the UK mainly situated in the west and north though they are showing to be expanding eastwards. The majority of Ravens are permanent residents in the UK although some
birds especially those that do not breed have shown to travel, but not too far.

Before entering the pen, I checked the Ravens records and looked inside to assess its body language, I worked as fast as I could to prevent the bird becoming overly stressed as stress in birds can cause further complications.  I watched Michelle catch the Raven and place it inside a cardboard box, I enjoy observing Michelle catch and restrain as I have started restraining the animals being rehabilitated and further gaining my confidence and skills in the areas. Once the Raven was placed into the box, we weighed it and whilst Michelle filled in the birds details I quickly cleaned and disinfected the branches and placed in fresh bedding and provided it with some clean branches to perch on.  Once the pen was cleaned, I provided the Raven with food and water and then Michelle released it back into the pen without having to handle it.  We are hoping that he will be moved outside soon which is where it will stay before before being released back to where it came from, which hopefully I can be involved in.

Laura Thorpe - Volunteer Wildlife Assistant

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To Support RSPCA Stapeley Grange by donating £3, simply text RSPCA2 to 70007 

Texts cost £3 + standard network rate

Fox cub update - a volunteering experience

My first week I assisted in caring for three fox cubs, providing them with food, water and observed how they were syringe fed, toileted and provided with treatment from the Wildlife Assistants and Veterinary nurses.

 

Over the past couple of weeks the centre is seeing far more animals arrive with the number of orphaned fox cubs in care rising fast. I assisted in the care of these cubs on my second week; I helped to clean their pens, feed and water the cubs, and observed Michelle handling and weighing them.  Michelle explained that it was important that that this was done quickly and efficiently so to prevent the cubs imprinting; essential that we keep them wild. The centre has strict protocols with regards handling and reducing human contact for all its animals so the hospital can be a very quiet place at timees, especially when it comes to working in the fox room.

March to September is the centres busiest period as it when the team receives many orphaned animals. I am particularly interested in foxes and other wild mammals and enjoy caring for them.  Overall the fox cubs appear to be doing really well and interacting with each other showing as they should and showing some natural wild behaviors, as you can see from this shot clip (they are so cute). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbIrWf-ZEWI

It is great to see they are all doing so well and are on track to be released later by the team later in the year. 

Laura Thorpe - Volunteer Wildlife Assistant

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To Support RSPCA Stapeley Grange by donating £3, simply text RSPCA2 to 70007 

Texts cost £3 + standard network rate

Volunteering at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre – Part 2 - Laura Thorpe

Week 2 volunteering at Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and another full day assisting my volunteer 'buddy' Michelle (Wildlife Assistant) on her daily duties caring and rehabilitating a variety of British Wildlife. I met many more new faces and was again greeted into a welcoming environment with many people who share the same interests and passions as I do.

I spent the day on outside duties but also helped out in other areas of the centre too. I helped care for a variety of patients including swans, ducks, Canadian geese (which the Centre has a special license for), hedgehogs, many types of bird including a sparrow hawk, otters and Celia, our orphaned Grey seal.

The day started with checking all those animals in care. We then started the process of feeding and cleaning and there is always lots of cleaning to do. I am really enjoying learning about handling and restraint techniques and administering treatments needed for all the different animals they have in care.  Watching and learning about injecting swans was great and is really expanding my knowledge.

Having never seen them in the wild before, the highlight of the day had to be to see the two otters; we cleaned their pen and refilled their pool. Michelle explained their feed of fish goes in their pool for enrichment allowing them to act out natural wild behaviors.  We are in and out so quickly so to minimise contact...it is so important to keep them wild. 

My next exciting task was feeding Celia her fish which was thrown into different areas of her pool; this forces her to search for her food. I later helped empty and clean Celia’s pool. I enjoyed cleaning her pool but worked fast keeping an eye on her at all times as seals may look cute but have nasty teeth! 

Michelle explain one indicator of a seals health is a wet ring around their eyes indicating they are hydrated. I also learnt the difference between the two types of seals in the UK; the common seal and the grey seal.

To finish off the day Michelle and I made up all the outside feeds for the late shift to take out; they also complete the last check of the day and lock up all the pens and aviaries. I really enjoyed my day outside with Michelle and learnt a lot about that stage of rehabilitation within the centre.  Luckily the weather was really nice! 

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To Support RSPCA Stapeley Grange by donating £3, simply text RSPCA2 to 70007 

Texts cost £3 + standard network rate