Highland Wildlife Rescue

03/03/2025

On it's seems only fair to treat you to a reminder of the peep peep of mucky hoglet Dóchas.

We do miss the babies, but they'll be here soon enough to cause havoc! 💚

Sound on 🤣

03/03/2025

EVA

We see comments on posts asking about help for injured wildlife where finders are told "let nature take it's course".

But nature doesn't hit animals on roads.

Nature doesn't make invisible walls made of glass for birds to fly into, or turbine blades to halt their passage.

It isn't nature when our pets chase, grab and maim wildlife.

So if you see a wild animal in trouble, help if you can. A towel and a sturdy box, and pair of gloves will do the trick but if you want to be properly equipped grab a kit from Wildlife First Response. Have your local wildlife rescue number in your phone - ours is 07957 584817 or use https://www.bwrc.org.uk/ to locate yours.

At best you'll save a life, and even of they can't survive their ordeal, you'll get help to ease their pain or prevent further suffering. Thank you Sam and Kevin for scooping up this female pheasant who'd been left injured, at the roadside.

EVA wasn't able to be saved but she was helped and had her pain eased, and that matters 💚

02/03/2025

HUNA

Released in a perfect location, to restart his life back in the wild.

There were 3 other Oystercatchers overhead as well as gulls and a Grey Heron. He listened, splashed around, had a wee preen, dug about in the sand, and then shot off before I could switch from photo mode to video.

I may have sat there a while just watching and listening to their peep peep peep.

When people like you stop, check, uplift, contain, transport, sponsor, donate - you help us to help them 💚

27/02/2025

A couple of days ago we pulled up an individual who was urging our supporters to administer medicatiions to wild bird populations, and demanding that we treat Avian flu victims with anti-viral drugs that we should secure from their "acquaintance" and they repeatedly posted comments with links to purchase.

We politely explained that as a licensed wildlife centre and BWRC Associate Member we have protocols, responsibilities and standards that we adhere to, to safeguard our patients, staff and volunteers. Ultimately we removed their comments to avoid our supporters being exposed to unknown medications or compromising their payment details.

We don't ask our supporters or finders to leave us Facebook reviews - we do our work, commit our time and dedicate ourselves to our work because it matters and we can make a difference to wildlife species.

Their review is purposely designed to negatively impact us, but rest assured, we won't be pressurised by any online bullying, harassment or nonsense, bad review or not. And trying to play us off against another rescue, just really won't work.

We care passionately about our patients, not how many 1⭐️ reviews we get from scammers 💚

27/02/2025

HUNA

Stage 2 of Huna's rehab involves a small secure area with a sandy bit, a grassy bit, a small, clean bathing pool and a forage tray with sand and shells, food and live insects, to encourage natural behaviours.

It's secluded because like many patients Oystercatchers can suffer from stress in captivity. Its small because he's still recovering from a sore leg and some predator inflicted wounds.

He's rebuilding strength so we want him to be able to enjoy a non clinical environment while preserving most of his strength for recovery and rebuilding his endurance.

Keep going HUNA 💚

25/02/2025

NOEL, MISTLETOE, IVY & RUDDER

From missing tails to predation attempt wounds, sore legs, canker and starvation, this ragtag bunch of pigeons have all healed and repaired, matured and refeathered, and made friends in the meantime.

They were waiting for Noel to put on some weight and condition, before we open their soft release hatch but if the weather holds they'll be tasting freedom here on the croft very soon.

The unrelated youngsters NOEL, MISTLETOE & IVY were all hatched round about Christmas week as they all arrived as juveniles. RUDDER has fostered them all and made sure they all eat well, access the drinking water, and practise their flying.

We provide backup feeding to the variety of birds that are released here, giving them a chance to transition back gently to their wild lives that were interrupted 💚

23/02/2025

HUNA

With dead and sick wild birds reported about 30 miles from here we are taking our intake protocols and isolation procedures very seriously as you would expect, to minimise the chances of taking in a bird with Avian Influenza.

HUNA, an Oystercatcher, was actually found an hour away in the opposite direction and was injured after other birds gave him a rough time in flight, but our advice still stands - PPE should be worn and any transport boxes should be thoroughly disinfected after use (F10 or Safe4 are our go-to disinfectants).

Going by size and weight HUNA is a male. He has a horrible wound on one side, and a sore right leg that he isn't keen to stand on so he'll be off to the vets tomorrow, and meantime has pain relief onboard.

These are stressy birds in captivity and need a specialised diet. You'll know their call, a shrill, clear peeeeep peeeeep as they fly overhead.

Thank you to Mairi for his rescue, transport and sponsorship 💚

22/02/2025

If it's blue sky and sunshine with you this morning (6⁰ here but feels like Spring) you should be treated to some wonderful birdsong.

And if like me, you can't tell them all apart, install the free Merlin App, tell it where in the world you are, and hit "record".

Next thing you know you'll not only have a list of all the lovely birdlife around you, you can click on each bird and hear recordings of its own individual song or chatter, to give you a better chance of recognising it for yourself next time.

I counted three Song Thrushes here this morning, and as we know they breed here, their courtship song is a welcome and regular backdrop to our days into Spring.

What are you hearing, and where are you?

20/02/2025

Three quarters of the patients who are able to be reared or rehabilitated here make it back to their wild lives.

The successes far outweigh the losses but we feel those losses very keenly - everything we do here is focussed on giving them the help they need to be ready for release.

As well as wee Rudi, the Red Squirrel who died suddenly on Friday, we very sadly lost Cattach the juvenile hedgehog yesterday. We know they received the best care possible and that we can't save them all, but we're definitely needing the joy of seeing Tiggy, Birkie, Remelle, Hector and Toto being released this week, to help restore some balance, and provide some moments of joy.

We're always grateful to our volunteers, sponsors, transporters, and donors.

THANK YOU ALL 💚 Without you, none of these little wild things would have the chances we can give them.

19/02/2025

Peekaboo!

While CATTACH is practising his digging for cover skills and wiping his bum on the floor of his unit, all his patient friends are deserting him.

Tiggy and Birkie left yesterday, Remelle leaves tomorrow, Hector and Toto on Friday and Saturday.

CATTACH's recovery from starvation and very high levels of internal parasites is slow and tricky, but he's trying very hard. He's not keen to eat because the medication affects his appetite so he's being helped with some handfeeds.

At this rate he'll be getting all of our attention as the last patient in the Hosgspital 💚

17/02/2025

We would love to be in with a chance of winning such a huge amount - it would move our patient building projects forward at pace!

Voting is free - please click our link to help and share with friends to gather support 💚

We could receive £5,000 in the Movement for Good draw.

15/02/2025

Please keep an eye out for "awakeners" as the temperatures start to warm up.

Some hedgehogs will have had a tough hibernation or not hibernated for long at all, waking up dehydrated, skinny and prone to parasites.

Little Cattach who arrived this week has high internal parasite burdens that need medication but there's a catch 22. Some of the medication will stifle his appetite, but he's also skinny and starving.

He's keeping me occupied with handfeeding to help get some nutrition into him and his digestive system moving.

Some days it's good to have to focus more time and attention on a patient that needs extra care 💚

Tomorrow we'll have a think about the additional hazards facing our prickly friends in our gardens and ways we can all help.

14/02/2025

NOT SO HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Our joy of seeing these Hazelnut shells cracked open midweek was shattered today.

We'd been planning Rudi's release this weekend.

His tooth growth journey had been phenomenal.

Our vets were delighted with his progress.

4 weeks of doing well.

We were so looking forward to seeing him go back to the wild, free and back in nature.

Sometime around lunchtime today, before I got back from an appointment in Inverness, he had died. No obvious reason, no suggestions of what could possibly have gone wrong. No signs, no answers, he just died.

We will have a post mortem carried out in Edinburgh but for now, we're just feeling pretty shattered. He will have impacted lots of you, our wonderful supporters, with his cuteness and fabulous progress. What a sad and sorry end for our wee Rudi 💔

We will keep going, because there's always a next patient and a next chance to help. Thank you for helping us to keep helping them.

14/02/2025

CATTACH

We were not really expecting a 289g juvenile to arrive in care in February.

From the peak of his spine, you can see that he has had a serious struggle through snow, ice and rain, to stay alive and find food.

Fluids, warmth, parasite treatment, good food and lots of TLC needed. He was very pleased to be named by Yvonne who recieved a hedgehog sponsorship gift for Christmas from regular supporter Becky.

The two ladies are huge Brora Rangers FC fans so his name is a big nod to their favourite team.

We're hoping to see him get stronger day by day. Send him some love for Valentine's Day 💚

13/02/2025

When Duncan set out to create a fundraising effort from a £5 note his mum gave him in August, who would have believed that he would turn it into a whopping £356 and donate the entire proceeds to our patients?

From Christmas decorations to apple crumbles he came up with lots of ideas and proved what a huge success he is at planning, preparing, budgeting, creating and selling, with fabulous support from his mum, Laura.

Choosing to support us with fundraising means our patients get everything they need to be reared, rehabilitated and released back to the wild. Thank you so much Duncan!

When Laura and Duncan delivered this fabulous donation, we chatted about the possibility of his garden being a release site for a hedgehog later in the year. We are delighted to have his support, and looking forward to keeping in touch with him, encouraging his love of wildlife 💚

09/02/2025

What is the best thing to wake up to on a frosty Sunday morning in February?

What is it, and who did it? 💚

A gnawed hazelnut, by Rudi!

08/02/2025

WINTER

This stunning, female Barn Owl is back home in Balloch, where she was found.

Jamie from the Inverness Branch of the SSPCA uplifted her four weeks ago. Found grounded under the railway bridge she was a sorry state bruised, skinny and unable to stand or feed herself let alone catch prey. Keiller fetched her for us and brought her to Brora.

Day by day, bit by bit, WINTER repaired, recovered and rebuilt her strength. We started with handfeeding, then she decided she would feed herself, and she improved indoors until she could move outside. Then it was time for flight testing and to check her endurance.

Well, the girl proved herself this week so we headed off to take her home. I'm not sure who was most excited - me, her, or her sponsor Louise!

In fact if you have a peek in the comments you'll see a stunning piece of artwork Louise Worthy Artist & Printmaker has produced. More news about that soon 💚

07/02/2025

RUDI - update, day 17 in care

Initially, where his top incisors were snapped off they weren't visible at all and we needed xrays to see the extent of the damage.

Last week's dentistry check showed a couple of millimetres of new growth which we were delighted with (top right image) and this week we are over the moon with progress (bottom, right image). The orangey colour is caused by an iron rich coating of enamel.

RUDI's dental check (trim and alignment) is completed by our vets at Rogart Vets and his overall body condition is confirmed at the same time.

He got a 5⭐️ review today, and we wanted to share this fabulous news with you. His food offering changes as his teeth grow, to get him using his gnashers again, and he seems to be very appreciative of the buffet!

Thank you for ALL the donations to his dentistry fundraiser and to Matilda his sponsor.