Furr & Feather Wildlife Rescue & Protection. Newark, Nottinghamshire.

01/08/2025

Its getting to that time of year, almost... Usually a bit later but seems to be happening sooner this year.
The autumn pigeon canker boom :(
If you see a pigeon on the ground that seems weak, or doesn't fly away like normal, the chances are they have come to ground because they are literally starving to d3ath because of canker.
This will be adults as well as this years young. Parents have canker themselves, or simply just carry it, unknowingly passing it on to their babies when they feed them :(

Canker is an awful disease caused by a paracite that makes a hard cheese like substance in the mouth/throat. I've added some photos of how it starts then develops. Eventually blocking the throat so the bird cannot eat or drink. This also can block the airway. If left, this is ALWAYS fatal and the most awful way to go. Either from starving/dehydrating to d3ath as they can neither eat nor drink, or suffocating.

NEVER attempt to remove canker yourself without experience, this can cause it to bleed and it does heavily, often aspirating the bird.
Always contact a rehabber. I NEVER remove canker myself, except for when there's a complete blockage and i need to make a little area for tube to be inserted for feed. Meds sort it quickly usually.
Also please NEVER attempt to force food on a bird, any bird, especially one that is far into starvation. This alone can k1ll them. They need to be slowly warmed up and rehydrated before food is given.

I do have meds in and i actually WILL take in canker patients this year (but can only manage a max of 3-4 at a time) as it is such a common problem, yet often easy to fix when not too advanced and obviously does not need so much regular hands on time as the baby garden birds do.
Just a case of treating the canker, building the bird back up with lots of food and vitamins, then can be released again.

Interesting fact: birds of prey can also get canker, but with those it is called "frounce".

18/07/2025

Went to a place earlier looking for small elephant hawk eggs, and humming hawk (we found 4 HBH larvae)
But on the way on a country road, we saw some idiot hit a pheasant chick. He didn't slow down, didn't come out the way, just drove straight through her!!!
I slammed on the breaks, dived out the car and RAN to her (almost k1lled me!!) Thought she was gone, but she wasn't. But was stargazing, agonal breathing and generally not good at all. Nothing upon my approach. Severe shock and concussion. Scooped her up, much to her dismay and popped her into the pet carrier i keep in the boot. She then lay on her side, agonal breathing still and her neck flopping all over the place. Covered her over with a towel so dark.
When we got to our destination i checked her expecting her to be passed (would've then popped her out somewhere for the buzzards, foxes etc) but there she was, sat up!!! Amazing. Still wobbly however.
Anyway, she had her shock therapy in the car i guess as we spent an hour or so looking through the bed straw, she would've been lovely and warm which is vital.
Decided if she was still with us when we had finished, i would pop her to Cuan Wildlife Rescue (which was literally just round the corner from where we were)
Got her there fine, and they got her settled and would give pain relief.

Fingers crossed for her! I've done just about all the birds, but never pheasants or similar, add obviously being closed to anything but swifts, AND being away, i have nothing with me whilst im visiting Shropshire. (This has shown me however i will have to get a first aid emergency kit of a few things in the car)

Fingers crossed she makes it, she is absolutely beautiful!! No photos however, she was shocked and stressed enough.

Shame on the person who did this and never even stopped. He absolutely would have seen her. How can people be so cruel?!!!

11/07/2025

Re previous post about my closure. Please see below other rescues. Always message them first to ensure they're open/have space please.

Any swifts, swallows or house martins please post here and they will coordinate rescue - Swift & Swallow SOS- Coordinating Rescues & Supporting Finders

Rescues for other birds -
Wild Things Rescue - Langrick Lincolnshire
Warsop Wildlife Rescue Team - Warsop
Mansfield Wildlife Rescue UK - Mansfield
Nosnibor Animal Rescue - Lincoln
Linjoy Wildlife Sanctuary and Rescue - Midlands - Burton on Trent (all animals, great for water birds too)
Sarah Giles - Grantham (wont let me tag page)
Moon and Stars wildlife rescue
There are lots of us :)
If you are a rescue that sees this in the east midlands, please tag your rescue in the comments below .

For poultry FPC Poultry Rescue UK

General pigeon advice please see Pigeon Rescue and Protection UK

There are other rescues, unfortunately facebook won't allow me to tag them.

You can also search by postcode on WWW.HELPWILDLIFE.CO.UK for close by rescues and those missed here.

When you see a bird needing help, please don't leave it alone to go and find a box etc - take it with you!
Find a cardboard box, cut out ventilation holes and line the bottom when kitchen paper, newspaper, an old towel etc and secure and leave somewhere quiet, dark, warm and safe.
Warmth is VITAL for a bird in shock. Please offer a warm (not hot) hot water bottle or snuggle safe. If you have neither of these, please fill a drinks bottle with warm water and close by the bird but always allow them space to get off/away from the source of heat.

Couple of important points.
💥 NEVER try to adminster water to a bird unless you are trained - it is extremely easy for them to aspirate and pass.
💥 NEVER try to force food into a birds mouth. Especially one that is starving! Feeding a starving bird will k1ll them, they must be rehydrated (professionally) before they can eat, the same goes for mammals.
💥 NEVER give bread and milk. Not good for them, and birds are lactose intolerant and this can make them very poorly.
💥 ALL and ANY bird and small mammal that has been in a cats mouth needs antibiotics. Doesn't matter if you cant see any wounds (most are microscopic anyway) and even if there's none, they still need antibiotics otherwise they will d1e. Time is CRUCIAL. The quicker they get medication, the more chance the animal with survive. I've been made aware recently that some vets have been advising people to leave birds alone/release back outside even with visible wounds. Please never do this, they WILL d1e and a horrible, painful one it is too :'(

Remember, i am leaving this page open and i will ALWAYS be here for advice!! I have an automatic message explaining the basics. I will get back to anyone that messages as soon as i am able to and hopefully coordinate rescue elsewhere. Please try the above rescues right away.

I will still be doing a few transport runs when i can. But its unlikely id be able to the same day. So please seak help immediately. Transport runs will only be for prior arrangements and never for any sick animals or emergency cases (as they need help sooner)

Remember birds, especially pigeons are incredibly resilient to injury, alot can be saved where some vets would PTS. However if you find an animal seriously injured, ie wings/limbs hanging off, ripped apart etc please always take to a vet immediately. Sometimes it is kinder to let them go in these cases, unfortunately we cant save them all.

Thank you ❤

08/07/2025

🕊️ Furr & Feather Wildlife Rescue – Closing My Doors

This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

But the truth is: I’ve got nothing left to give.

I’ve poured every single part of myself into this rescue — my time, my money, my health, my home, my heart, my soul.

Every last piece of me has gone into trying to give injured wildlife a second chance.

And now… there’s just nothing left.

The livestock I raise to fund the rescue is collapsing:

• From 25 large elephant hawk, I’m down to 7.

• Only 1 of the smaller ones survived.

• The Rothschildia are fading.

• The DHH are struggling.

• The C. regalis? Total disaster. Weak stock. I had so much hope for these.

• The 46 privet hawks are doing well, so not ALL bad.

I’m still hoping for A. luna eggs to arrive from the States, but with the heat, I don’t think they’ll survive the journey.

• with the extra species, i was focusing on bulk raising (the above) i released around 400 eyed hawk larvae back to the wild, and gave away another 400 or so. I wish i now had kept some back....

On top of that:

• I’ve been ill — my usual conditions, plus severe dental problems and TMD causing unbearable pain.

• The dogs... Well.... A dog....destroyed some of the tubs — full of larvae.

• eBay has banned live insect sales — my winter fundraising platform totally gone.

• And most painfully — I lost my dad, suddenly and unexpectedly, in December 2023. I’m still deep in complex grief, still reeling from the loss of my mum in 2017, and other family and friends in between. It all hurts so much.

Every summer, I’ve slogged my guts out raising insects to fund the rescue.

Every winter and spring, I’ve sold pupae to make sure i have money there to be able to do this and buy all the birds will need.

All while caring for my family, struggling with my own health and depression, caring for my own animals, and trying to hold my life together.

I’ve faced:

• Constant criticism.

• People turning up with birds attacked by their own cats — and leaving without even offering a donation.

• Worsening home conditions.

• An unbearable lack of support.

• So many people saying “Let me know how I can help,” but then disappearing when I actually did. Over and over.

Still, I kept going. I kept fighting.

Because this rescue wasn’t just a project — it was my dream.

Since I was a little girl, this is all I ever wanted.

To help animals. To give them safety, healing, a second chance.

And it has been the most beautiful, fulfilling, heartbreaking journey of my life.

But now I’m tired. I’m beaten. I’m broken.

And with everything falling apart around me, I have to face the truth:

I know I’ve said I would close a couple of times now — but this time, it really is for good.

💔 Furr & Feather Wildlife Rescue is closing. 💔

And I am so sorry.

Sorry to be yet another rescue forced to shut down. So many of us are crumbling under the same weight: exhaustion, rising costs, relentless demand, and almost no real support.

Sorry to the birds I won’t be able to save.

Sorry for the guilt I will carry, knowing they still need help I can’t give.

I feel like I’m letting them down.

I feel like I’ve failed them.

But I just… can’t carry on anymore.

This isn’t a decision made lightly — it’s one made because I physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially cannot keep doing this.

I wish I could.

God knows I’ve tried.

I’ll still help where I can.

The odd bird, here and there.

Always the swifts — always.

But I can’t operate or advertise as a rescue anymore.

I’ll be letting the BBC know too.

To those of you who genuinely supported me — with time, love, encouragement, donations, even just kindness — I thank you with my whole heart. Truly. You helped me hold on longer than I ever could have alone.

To the animals — every single one of you was worth it.

To everyone else: I hope one day you understand what this kind of work takes from a person.

It doesn’t just cost money — it costs everything.

This has been my everything.

And it’s taken everything from me.

I am so, so sorry.

– Jane.

Furr & Feather Wildlife Rescue

Newark, Nottinghamshire





🕊️ I will however, be leaving this page running. Soon I’ll make another post tagging other local rescues and offering general advice for what to do if you find an injured or orphaned bird — including the basic care to give while you’re waiting for help.

📩 And while I can’t physically take animals in anymore, I will always be here via this page to offer advice and guidance.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support.

I just can’t do the hands-on work any longer.

29/04/2025

Hi all.
Just to remind i am taking Swifts again this year. I am an acredited rehabber and recommended by the Swift Society.
I can also take the odd garden/song bird at my discretion also, depending on time and what i have in at the time.

No baby pigeons!!! Except for absolute emergencies. As much as i adore them, they just take up too much time. But still able to take canker patients etc.

Will not/can not take anything with broken bones unfortunately.

09/01/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18h1FmhLqG/

02/12/2024

It totally breaks my heart to say this, and i will be totally lost over spring/summer, but i will be remaining closed over next year :( (hopefully i will be back in 2026 but this solely depends on sourcing decent livestock to make sales which funds the rescue over 2025)

Due to lots of losses in my lepidoptera this year (at fault of a bad "breeder") i simply do not have the funds to be able to operate.

I will however continue with the swifts, and ONLY swifts. I cannot turn my back on them completely as there are so little people closely who can raise these, and i am listed as an accredited rehabber for these specifically.. This will still be a big struggle financially but i will manage somehow.

Really sorry about this.
I find it hard to turn away any animal needing help so PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT ME ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
There are many other rescues who can help. See www.helpwildlife.co.uk and put your postcode in to search your area.
Any seriously injured animals should be taken to the vet. Minster Newark work with Wild Things Rescue so they are great to go to.

Remember however that any animal that has been in a cats mouth MUST get antibiotics ASAP to stand a chance of survival, please do not allow anyone, even if they are a vet, to back out into the wild without this. Same goes for any pigeons/doves/baby rooks on the ground or any other bird that is not fully feathered.

HelpWildlife.co.uk - Helping You to Help Them

26/10/2024

Please share!
Remember, if you do leave your pumpkins for the wildlife, please try and put them in a tree, or up on something where hogs can't reach.
Squirrels and birds enjoy them and they're a great source of energy and vitamin A for them, but for hedgehogs they can be devastating.

You can also contact wildlife sanctuaries/farms that keep ducks, pigs, racoons, deer etc and see if they want them :) im sure they will be welcome.

23/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/mpTEWeRhPdXvCbo2/

07/10/2024

Im sorry. But i just CANNOT continue with the wildlife this winter. Not at all. Please contact another rescue and take any severely injured wildlife to the vet (Minster and Medivet work alongside rehabbers)
In part because i can barely look after myself. My mental health is so bad, almost the worst its been in 25 years including complex grief from losing my mum in 2017 and my dad last December. (This doesn't mean the animals get neglected. They don't. They get everything which means what little care i do give myself gets even less)
My waking hours are emotional hell. And where usually i could escape in sleep, my dreams are being plagued by pain and delirium 💔😭 im a mess (waiting on therapy)
An also in part to how things are at home/how i live... Not ideal for the birds anymore, because of one of my late dads dogs being here is even more difficult.
And also i have limited space .... Spaces i did make have been taken by other stuff.
In short, everything is a complete mess and im totally overwhelmed with it all.

I really hope to try and get things sorted ready for baby season next year including getting a small aviary put together for the rehabbing part (which i haven't done for a while now, only raising nestlings) But that is a huge task in itself and more complicated than just making an aviary due to how the garden has gone :(

Just have to see how things go.
Please don't make me feel bad or guilty for not taking an animal you contact me about. Please, please contact another rescue.
If you don't drive i MAY be able to take to rescue for you, but you MUST arrange for them to go in yourself. Ill literally just do the pick up/drop off. But i cannot do this at the drop of a hat, need a little notice like the day before. I understand there are emergencies.
I will still be here to offer help and advice over message.

06/10/2024

The pigeons have started...... Despite not taking any pigeons 🤣 im going away on Friday too! So im maybe gonna have another travel companion unless someone has space?
Look how cute she is tho ❤
Poor thing was found grounded by a lady on my street, almost ran over and then in someone's garden, sleeping on their doorstep.

Not flying, but has good resistance in both wings and legs.
However, she is incredibly thin. Hopefully just a matter of building her back up then ill be looking for a home for her (whether indoor, aviary or joining a resident flock)
I don't like to re release the white ones.

02/10/2024

Not wildlife related, but trying to help my friend.
He has taken over Pastability .
So a completely new owner, new foods and new menu.
Food is always cooked fresh and is absolutely beautiful!
The cafe is so comfy, brightly lit and clean and inviting.
Prices are amazing too, and all staff are so friendly and kind and always there to help.

Even if you're feeling low, pop in and you'll leave feeling much better ❤

Go and give it a try :)