Who can help with injured wildlife?

Many people contact us about injured birds and animals. This is not our area of expertise and unfortunately we cannot take in injured wildlife – but there are lots of specialist rescue organisations who will be able to help.

A selection of wildlife rescue organisations in Sussex

Most of these organisations rely on volunteers, so please call the one that is closest to you first.

RSPCA

0300 1234 999, National 0300 123 0723, Mallydams Wood Wildlife Unit, Hastings

Brent Lodge Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary

01243 641672, Chichester

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS)

07815 078234 (24 hour rescue hotline), East Sussex

Folly Wildlife Rescue

01892 543213, Tunbridge Wells

Grove Lodge Veterinary Group

01903 234866 (24 hour emergency hotline), Worthing

British Hedgehog Preservation Society

01584 890 801, National (can provide contact details for local hedgehog carers in Sussex)

Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

01825 840252, Ringmer

Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service (WADARS)

01903 247111, Worthing

Swans & Friends Bird Rescue

07712 753919, Copthorne

Species focus

Bats and Hedgehogs

Bats and hedgehogs can be found in parks and gardens.
They often need expert care if injured or unwell.

Have you found an injured or exhausted bat?

The National Bat Helpline

Call helpline (weekdays 9:30 to 4:30):

0345 1300 228

noctule bat_ Hugh Clark FRPS (5)

Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus

Species focus

Are you concerned about a Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so you won’t see one in the daytime unless it is sick or injured. Hedgehogs out in the daytime will need help.

Hedgehogs hibernate through winter, usually from November to March, but this does depend on the weather. If you find a hedgehog still active in the winter months, it is likely to need help as it may be too small to survive hibernation.

Hedgehog first aid advice

Or call: 01584 890 801

Coast and sea

Stranded marine wildlife

Marine wildlife occasionally washes up on beaches, particularly after stormy or windy weather. It’s always advisable to be cautious and seek help if necessary.

Reporting Alive Strandings (seals, dolphins & whales)

Finding a stranded animal can be distressing. Though your first instinct may be to try to help it back into the water, you should never try to do this – they have stranded for a reason and require urgent professional medical attention.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) website has comprehensive information on what to do if you find stranded marine wildlife.

To report stranded marine life:

Go to BDMLR website

Rescue Hotline: 01825 765546

Reporting Dead Strandings (seals, dolphins, whales & large sharks)

Go to UK Cetaceans Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP)

or call 0800 652 0333

Coast and inland

Oiled birds and oil spills

The appropriate organisation to contact for an oil spill depends on where the spill has occurred.

Oil is particularly toxic to a bird if ingested, which easily happens when they try to preen off the oil. Please do not attempt to clean birds yourself, it requires specialist equipment and expertise. Do not touch dead or sick birds.

Other marine wildlife

Jellyfish (and Jelly-like Creatures)

Jellyfish, Portuguese Man O Wars and By-The-Wind Sailors sometimes wash up on our beaches. Jellyfish often appear en masse in the summer; Portuguese Man O Wars occasionally make an appearance over winter, particularly if there has been windy conditions at sea. These creatures are drifters, so rely on ocean currents and wind to move around.

If you see these creatures washed up on the beach it’s best not to touch. Some of them are still able to sting even if they are dead.

Goose Barnacles

Goose Barnacles occasionally wash up on our shores over the winter months when the harsher weather brings flotsam to the beaches. These alien-like creatures attach to all sorts of hard surfaces including rocks, ships, ropes or flotsam floating out at sea. They’re harmless (although may get a little smelly if left out in the sun!).