We have had some unusual casualties over the past few weeks. This started on our last open weekend in November when a bearded dragon was handed in having been found in a garden in Burnham on Sea. It’s a good job that we can find out through contacts, how to look after these animals that suddenly descend upon us !
Female Bearded Dragon soon going to a new home
Luckily having been given a clean bill of health, it looks like it will be able to go to Bristol Zoo which will be fantastic. It is a female so maybe she will have a friend to be with.
Only a few days after that, a King Snake was found in another garden locally and has still not been claimed. Do people really turn out pets when they don’t want them? It’s so cruel, especially in this cold weather that we have been having.
Another unusual call out was in the middle of the night when we were asked to attend a police raid that had found a Spotted Eagle Owl in unsuitable conditions. Lisa was on duty that night and finally got home around 4 a.m. The owl has been signed over to us now by the owner and its jessies held on by nuts and bolts have been replaced by proper leather fittings.
He is very quiet and it is hoped that in time, he will join our other birds that go out to talks. One of our volunteers is going to have him in her own aviary so that she can give him more time. He certainly is a very spectacular bird that, we hope, will be happy in his new home.
Another middle of the night call was the police that collected a young swan sitting on the hard shoulder of the M5, around junction 27. The swan had probably been confused with all the ice and snow. He was due to be taken back to the canal near there last Sunday but after travelling all the way down there, it was found the canal was still frozen so he had to come back! We’ll try again once the mild weather is with us again.
Young swan found during the night on the motorway!
Two separate incidents involving ducks were brought in over Christmas, both having been shot. One sadly had to be put to sleep because of its injuries but the other one is looking a lot better. A hedgehog that came in on Boxing Day had a horrendous wound to its back and I just gave it pain relief after cleaning the wound. It looked very deep so I did not do too much to it. It went to the vets so that it could be treated under anaesthetic but the wound was found to be right down to the spinal chord it was beyond help.
It has been the first Christmas for me to have orphans in the kitchen. Toni has been getting better at swimming and Boxing Day was the first time that I trusted them to be together. Puddle is so much bigger but Toni can now give as good as she can get!! From the shy cub too small to go swimming, to a shy cub grasping the shower hose she is now as adept as Puddle in under water swimming.
Toni, too young to join Puddle
Toni still wearing 'L' plates !
Swimming together at last
Next week they should be out in the Millie block with water available to them all the time and the cubby hole will fall quiet until the next casualties arrive.
They’re not the only ones swimming over Christmas as we made our Winter Warmer Dip in the Sea on Sunday December 27th at Lyme Regis. We had a lovely crowd cheering on as 5 brave souls ( including a dog ) made a dash for the sea. The sun may have been shining but it was definitely freezing in the water!
It was definitely cold !!
On December 28th, Simon was called out to a badger digging incident. Details below. I cannot believe that people can find any sort of enjoyment from this sport. Sadly legislation does not stop these criminals. We do all that we can to protect our wildlife but sometimes it just does not feel enough.
May 2010 be a happy and healthy one for you. With your help, we hope that we shall stop as much suffering as we can to our wildlife in 2010.
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