This swan has come into care at WRAS this morning after being found on the side of Wallsend Road,
Pevensey last weekend. Weighing only 8kg we were worried about her condition and after medication and observations for 48 hours she was clearly in need of more specialist attention so was sent up to the Swan Sanctuary. This is the second swan we have dealt with this week. A swan was also picked up at Leeds Avenue, Eastbourne clearly very poorly, initial thoughts are he is suffering from Botulism or lead poisoning and these are being investigated. We’ve been called a number of times down to Princes Park for reports of poorly swans on the surrounding walkway but every time we have arrived the swans have not been there.
You may remember the family of swans which were rescued from Decoy Pond at Hampden Park. The remaining four cygnets are doing very well and this photo has been sent to us from the Swan Sanctuary of them with their foster mum.
Don’t forget to come along to our Indoor Nature Trail this weekend at East Dean Village Hall, Village Green Lane, Off Gilberts Drive, East Dean, BN20 0DJ. The doors open at 11am and the events runs till 5pm. This event is now free entry although donations are very much appreciated to help support our work. There will be various stalls, displays, activities for children, talks and presentations throughout the day too. Refreshments available too. So please come along to our celebration of our local wildlife where you will find out more about dormice, badgers, bats, gulls, dolphins and seals and much more. East Sussex is a fantastic county for nature and wildlife so please come and join us. We are in the lovely village of East Dean in the village hall next to the church and village green. The Tiger Inn in only just round the corner too. We are only 3 minute walk from the A259 East Dean bus stop too.
One of our favourite birds has come in from Laughton - a Stock Dove. It appears to have had a collision with something and damaged its shoulder. He has been given first aid and medication and now been seen by one of our vets, the wings have been taped to give them support and we hope he will make a full recovery.
There have been a few fox calls this week. The first was a road casualty fox which was sadly dead by the time we arrived on the outskirts of Bexhill, and the second was to a fox with severe injuries and maggot infested wounds in Hastings, which sadly had to be put down at the vets. One fox which came last Friday after struggling to get around in some gardens in Manvers Road, Eastbourne. She is rather underweight, but also has a number of wounds across her back and rear legs where we think she has been knocked by a car. Our vet Mike has sutured up several of the wounds and we are now starting her on an initial liquid diet to try and build her back up.
We have a 75gram hoglet come into care too. He is looking a lot better than when he first arrived. He is thoroughly enjoying being fed by his new foster mum Kirsti.
If you find yourself in the Polegate area please support the Coop Store at the Polegate Service Station as East Sussex WRAS is there chosen charity for the month. So please pop in and drop your change into our tins.
After our plea for new volunteers the other week we had some great responses, but due to people’s circumstances changing we are still looking for some help on a few days - Friday pm, Sat pm and Sun pm in particular, which are 5pm until finish - usually by 8pm. Our Casualty Centre is on the A22 at Whitesmith which is between Hailsham, Lewes and Uckfield, in East Sussex. More information about volunteering is available on our website at http://wildlifeambulance.org/how-you-can-help/volunteering/
If you are interested but not available on those days then it is always worth getting in touch with our volunteer co-ordinator Kathy as other shifts may be available, morning shifts that may still be available are Monday am, Weds am, Friday am & Sunday am - 9am -1pm. You can use the form at the bottom of our volunteering page to contact Kathy and enquire.
Our ambulances have been very busy this week especially in the evenings dealing with an injured gull at Trinity Place, Eastbourne; an injured robin at Westham; an injured pigeon in Lewes; two window strike feral pigeons a garden in Lewes; an injured pigeon in Granville Road, Eastbourne; an injured fox at Salsbury Road Seaford; a poorly hedgehog from Windmill Hill; a Blue Tit from Southway Lewes and much more too.
Finally please remember that here at East Sussex WRAS we are not a very big organisation, we don’t have a call centre, and are primarily a volunteer led charity. We operate on a shoe string budget. We are not funded by the RSPCA, nor Government and have limited resources. We are only able to attend all these calls and more thanks to donations, so if you are able to make a donation and help support our work please do so. Standing orders are the best way to support us making a small donation on a monthly basis really help us plan for the future so if you can help please do. Please don’t wait till you need our help, please support us so we can continue to grow and increase the number of casualties we deal with. More information is available on our website www.wildlifeambulance.org.