Help our wildlife hospital

Aim

We need to purchase animal care equipment and improve our enclosures for our wildlife hospital so we can help sick and orphaned wildlife.

ABOUT BRENT LODGE WILDLIFE HOSPITAL

We provide care and rehabilitation to over 3,500 sick, injured and orphaned wildlife casualties each year, with the aim to release healthy animals back to their natural habitats.

This year marks 50 years since our Founder first started caring for wildlife. We have come along way since then and we are now one of the longest serving wildlife rehabilitation hospitals in the UK. Being a well-respected source of wildlife casualty care and knowledge to the community we are able to assist members of the public, RSPCA inspectors, wildlife police officers and veterinary clinics with wildlife in need.

HOW DO WE HELP WILDLIFE

We are now at the end of our busy hedgehog care season. Many of these healthy hedgehogs have now been released and we are now caring for the influx of young or orphaned wildlife casualties. These early babies are often suffering from the cold, dehydration, malnourishment and sometimes respiratory infections. They are examined and weighed, and given warmth, food and fluids. Some may need hand-feeding plus regular observations while they stabilise. 

Many of the early babies admitted at the start of the season have already moved out of the hospital and onto the next stage of their rehabilitation into one of our outside enclosures, here they will continue to grow, develop and prepare for their release later in the year. This is just the start of our busy season, we anticipate over 1,500 wildlife casualties to be admitted into our care over the spring and summer months.

WHAT IMPACT DO WE MAKE

Wildlife populations are in huge decline across the UK. Sadly, habitat loss, human influences and  depleted food sources are some of the main causes. Wildlife often arrive orphaned or suffering from pet or predator attacks, casualties of road traffic collisions and unfortunately, victims of deliberate cruelty.

Through our educational outreach work, visiting schools and informing community groups we aim to inspire individuals to respect wildlife and in turn protect their habitats in the hopes it will ensure their long-term survival. Our wildlife hospital is playing an important role to ensure these habitats are thriving with healthy wildlife.

HOW CAN YOU HELP US TO HELP WILDLIFE

We are just starting our busiest wildlife care season and it is essential that we are well-prepared for the months ahead and the influx of seasonal wildlife casualties we are going to face. This will mean a deep clean of the hospital, an increase in staff to provide the round the clock feeds and care, ordering medication, specialist food and improving enclosures, care units and essential equipment.

During recovering and rescue we house birds, hedgehogs and other mammals in individual care units and enclosures, which are cleaned every day and patients are given fresh bedding, food and water. Providing patients with improved animal care units or enclosures will allow patients to feel safe while they recuperate. The extra space for movement allows them to grow and recover. These new units are much more space-efficient and will enable us to accommodate more patients, reducing the need to transport these vulnerable patients to other centres, causing unnecessary stress.

We hope to gain your support with our appeal and help us secure the future of our UK wildlife as we continue to provide care and rehabilitation to wildlife casualties to get them fit and healthy for release. 

This project successfully funded on 16th June 2021