Saying goodbye to the 'Stapeley Six' storm seal pups

They say a good breakfast is needed to set you up for the day.  I have to some extent followed this well used saying today by waking up to Kellogs, Nutrigrain, Porridge, Ready Brek, Start and Boulder.  However it was no normal breakfast time but a fantastic opportunity for me to help with the first stage of the transfer of the 'Stapeley Six' (that were named after cereals by the staff at RSPCA East Winch!) back to Norfolk where they will begin their final stages of rehabilitation, before their release.

   

I joined RSPCA Driver Dan Ward on the first leg of the move which involved our moving a seal that had been rescued from Liverpool Docks to 'Welsh Mountain Zoo' and to bring back to Stapeley, three of the 'Stapeley Six' who had been there for the past six weeks.  Our Liverpool seal will spend some time at the Zoo, before being returned to the wild.

   

The three 'Stapeley Six' seals were looking great after their time at the zoo, fantastic body condition.  It was now their turn to be loaded up for the short journey back to Stapeley.  Thanks to the help of the zoo's friendly staff the exchange went very smoothly and we returned to Stapeley with our bargain of three seals for the price of one!

   

Two days later and their final move back to Norfolk from where they will be finally released. It was a mammoth task carefully herding each seal into a Vari Kennel and then lifting them onto the RSPCA van, especially with their extra weight and it being another early start!

Fortunately the seals were fairly compliant and we had them boxed up and ready for transfer within an hour; Dan was on the road once again.  Seeing their progress through the various stages of rehabilitation and grow has been fantastic, then being part of their final transfers has really made it a special moment for me.  As they say 'all good things must come to an end' but I will certainly not miss the awful smell of herring!

Its been a massive team effort at Stapeley to help through these six seal pups and we have been helped massively by  the staff at 'Welsh Mountain Zoo' who looked after three of the 'Stapeley Six'.  The hard work is now over to the seals but we have at least given them a chance of a life back in the wild, where nature intended.

By Michelle Bite

 'Help RSPCA Stapeley Grange now by giving just £3, simply text RSPCA2 to 70007‘ Texts cost £3 + standard network rate

Supporters of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

Unusual shopper

The stormy weather has caused chaos all over Britain over recent months; even Stapeley Grange was hit a couple of weeks ago leaving us with no power for two days, which proved interesting in the hospital.  As well as the seals and otters that have been brought into Stapeley, the recent high winds has also resulted in a number of birds being blown off course that have left them in difficulties and that has meant they have had to come in.

One such casualty was a Razorbill found limping along Llandudno High Street; struggling and clearly out of place it was in need of our help.  An RSPCA Inspector collected the sea bird from its 'shopping trip' on the high street and transferred it into Stapeley so that it could be checked for any injuries which may be causing it's lameness.  The pain was probably sustained from crash landing in the high winds but on initial examination, the legs did not reveal any wound or obvious injury.

The Razorbill was placed on a course of painkillers and over the space few days has begun to shown some improvement. Although it currently still needs to be assist fed sprats the bird has also begun to put on weight which is very encouraging.  I can't wait to see this rarely seen seabird recover and return to its natural coastal cliff surroundings.

By Michelle Bite

East Coast Storm Seal appeal: To donate Text Seal02 £3 or £5 to 70070

Take a look at our seals: http://bit.ly/1kouicu

  

Supporters of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

Senseless shooting

Crows, along with other corvids and waterfowl, are often sadly admitted into the hospital as a result of senseless shootings.  Regrettably it can sometimes take time for such injuries to be noticed by members of the public before they are brought in; crows are very resilient and can survive on the ground for some time before they are noticed and picked up.

A crow was admitted this week with a dropped wing and was subsequently x-rayed by the veterinary team. The xray revealed an air gun pellet embedded in its neck!  It was very lucky to have survived and to have been spotted and picked up so quickly, thus enabling the team to act on this new evidence.

The pellet was removed and the bandage applied around the dropped wing in a figure of eight around the body which would offer more support.  This will be removed in a few days for a re-check to see if the wing positioning is correct.  The crow is currently on a course of painkillers and is eating well.

 

I will never be able to comprehend why someone would want to cause such harm and suffering to such a beautiful and intelligent bird.

By Michelle Bite

East Coast Storm Seal appeal: To donate Text Seal02 £3 or £5 to 70070

Take a look at our seals: http://bit.ly/1kouicu

  

Supporters of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

New Year and new challenges

We are now a few weeks into the New Year and with a dramatic end to 2013 many of us have not had the time to think of resolutions (a valid excuse I think!), instead we are looking forward to what challenges 2014 will bring. This year marks a big milestone for Stapeley as it is our 20^th anniversary, a fantastic cause for celebration and a great achievement. In addition to the difficult task of rehabilitation we have also set an ambitious fundraising aim of £20,000, so there are many exciting events planned to hopefully even beat the target. Please see the following link to find out more details of what we have planned through the year  http://www.rspca.org.uk/local/stapeley-grange-cattery/events.

For the start of this year sadly the seals have not been the only victims of the terrible weather. Flooding from the rains have resulted in two cases of unfortunate otter cubs to be swept away from their homes and mothers. Luckily they were both discovered and when no parent returned were brought to Stapeley by an RSPCA Inspector.  

They were given health checks before settling into their new homes in isolation with a wooden box den, cosy blanket and a nice heat lamp for warmth. Initially the orphans were fed milk formula with a bit of trout but weaning didn't take long as within days the cubs were devouring the fish!

Appearances can be deceptive and in this instance it is certainly the case. Despite the cute looks, otter cubs come with a sharp set of teeth that they are not afraid to use!

During rehabilitation we follow a minimal contact and hands off approach to their care to prevent the cubs from becoming accustomed to people. Soon they will be transferred to the New Forest Wildlife Park who specialise in the rehabilitation of orphaned and sick British otters. The cubs will be cared for there for up to 9 months, in the mean time they have been paired together as they are of similar age to socialise and learn from each other. 

Supervisor Rob is the rehabilitation Coordinator at Stapeley and works in collaboration with the environment agency to carry out a soft releases onto suitable private land near where they generally came from. I hope to follow the otter cubs progress until their release later in the year, I think that is a far better resolution than going to the gym!

By Michelle Bite

 

East Coast Storm Seal appeal: To donate Text Seal02 £3 or £5 to 70070

Take a look at our seals: http://bit.ly/1kouicu

 

Supporters of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

To the Mountains... (And don’t spare the seals!)

Myself and supervisor Rob had a cheeky little day out on Sunday, but all in the name of work and rehabilitation I assure you!

It was time to take 4 of our orphaned seals to a bigger pool...Destination ‘Welsh Mountain Zoo’. The Welsh Mountain Zoo have 2 of their own orphaned seals to contend with presently, but fortunately, their larger and deeper pool facilities mean there is plenty of room for a few of ours to join in too!

  

All hands on deck in the morning as we guided, nudged and steered our 4 seals into individual carriers, weighed them, updated their records and loaded them into the van. They all appeared quite chilled out and a couple even had a snooze on the way.

Arriving at the zoo we were met by some of the keepers and they assisted in transferring our charges from the back of the van to the new pool enclosure. Just like their stay with us at Stapeley, this too, is just a temporary stop prior to their final release back into the sea. Weight wise they still need to gain bit more ready for the wild, and having a deeper pool means they can practice their swimming and feeding skills...all necessary for the best chance of survival in the big wide sea!

  

Although at a zoo, our seals are not on display to the public. However, myself and Rob and Tom and Peter from Welsh Mountain Zoo, did enjoy just watching them for awhile when we let them into the new area! Was great fun seeing them dive to the lower depths, splash around freely, blow bubbles and my favourite, floating vertically with just their heads bobbing on the surface!

 

They have come a long way, not just in miles but physically too. The next step of rehabilitation is underway and it has been fulfilling to be part of the journey so far. The Welsh Mountain Zoo will keep us updated on the seals general health and progress, and a big thank-you to them for providing the next step of our seals care (and a good cup of tea at the cafe!).   By Lynsey Cale

East Coast Storm Seal appeal: To donate Text Seal02 £3 or £5 to 70070

Take a look at our seals: http://bit.ly/1kouicu

Supporters of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

The Seal Ordeal!

Winter...tis often a much calmer and quieter affair here at Stapeley.  A time for doing jobs we are often too busy to do during spring and summer. A time of catching up, tidying up, stocking up.  A time to restore, reorganise and recharge. But this year our winter serenity has been short lived...we have had the calm before the storm...literally.

If you have read or seen the news recently, you will probably be aware of the terrible storm surges which happened recently in Norfolk, resulting in vast numbers of grey seal pups being washed up, washed out and separated from their mums. The RSPCA East Winch branch is currently caring for 100 grey seal pups! One hundred!!! Here at Stapeley, we have a very modest 6! A minor group in comparison, yes, but they have certainly kept us on our toes ever since their arrival!

    

The 6 seal pups came to us just over a week ago aged less than three weeks, and still covered in their fluffy white/yellowish fur coats (pictured above left). They have since moulted these furry coverings (pictures below) and are now velvety grey with varying shades of speckles on them. At the hospital, the seals are reliant on the staff to feed them regularly; 4 times a day at the moment. Christmas we know is a costly affair, but even more so now! Five weeks of fish for 6 seals will cost us £2000! In the wild, they suckle fatty rich milk from their mums and would put on nearly 1.5 kilos in weight a day! They would then be abandoned by their mums just after they have moulted and weighing in at approx.40 kilos.

Presently, whilst in our care, they do not have the fat reserves to warrant being released back into the sea. So it is our job to feed them up so they reach a good weight and are able to lay down blubbery reserves. Ours currently weigh in at approx. 26-28 kilos.

The seals certainly take some handling when we are tube feeding them fish soup. We have to straddle and grip them to keep them steady. We are all after one week, achy, stiff and with thigh muscles of steel! The sounds of the seals when you walk down the corridor, is not dissimilar to a labour ward...lots of grunting, snorting and huffing!

  

As a newer member of the team here at Stapeley, I have had a very fulfilling week. I am being trained by experienced staff in the handling and safety of working with seals and in the correct use of equipment. Today I got to use a seal net for the first time, as we moved one of our weightier seals from indoors to an outdoor pool (pictured below). The fun continues and will do so for many more weeks. (I just hope my thighs can take the strain).  

If you would like to help us in the care of the seals, we would gladly receive any unwanted towels, blankets and bed linen. Alternatively, if you have £5 to spare at Christmas, please text SEAL02 £5 to 70070 and help feed our fishy friends. Any donations are always truly appreciated and gratefully received. Thank-you.

And check out this recent report by Lee Oliver: http://youtu.be/bHI7QLX_H0o

By Lynsey Cale

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Blog

Seasonal Success at Stapeley

After a lot of preparation for the event and eager anticipation, the day of the Christmas Fair arrived full of festive fun. This was only the second year Stapeley has run the event and thankfully the weather was on our side again as were the excellent numbers of people who came along in support. They all enjoyed the stalls, games, tasty refreshments and the chance to tell Santa what they would like for Christmas. 

To complete the festive mood Claire and Kev from The Cat Radio station provided the music and entertainment broadcasting live from Stapeley promoting the event. Many visitors took the opportunity to look around the Cattery, we hope to re-home many cats and kittens over the coming weeks, which is a massive additional benefit from the day. There was also the exciting draw of the Grand Prize Raffle which many local businesses generously donated many fantastic prizes towards. Please see our facebook page for a list of the Prizes and lucky winners!

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/RSPCA-Stapeley-Grange-Cattery/362438010515120

All the hard work and contributions from everyone paid off really well with the total fund raised on the day amounting to nearly £3000!

This is incredible news and fantastic achievement, without all the tremendous help the success of this year’s event would not be possible so a huge thank you everyone. At Stapeley we are determined to make 2014 events even bigger and better, so we would be delighted for your continued support for all the animals at the Centre.

Written by Michelle Bite

Photos by Claire Faulkner and Samantha Taylor

Sponsors of Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre and Cattery

  To donate to Stapeley text and our orphans: STAP70 £2 or £5 to 70070