South Essex Wildlife Hospital

South Essex Wildlife Hospital Dedicated to putting “life” back into the “wild”
veterinary care and rehabilitation for wildlife.

As we steadily march towards the end of the year we wanted to share something with you...Each and every image in this gr...
28/12/2024

As we steadily march towards the end of the year we wanted to share something with you...

Each and every image in this grid shows the moment when one of our patients returned to the wild this year - and it's only a tiny fraction of what you have helped us to achieve (let's be honest, many are too hard to get on camera!).

For a wild animal, freedom and life are the only things they have and, thanks to your support, we have been able to help THOUSANDS of individuals get their own magical moment of freedom.

So, as 2024 draws to a close, we just wanted to say thank you. These moments are only possible thanks to your donations, kindness, well wishes and more. Every single life we have been able to rescue is in your hands.

Thank you for allowing us to save them ❤

As December rolls into January, things get a little more active in the red fox world! With the mating season now underwa...
27/12/2024

As December rolls into January, things get a little more active in the red fox world! With the mating season now underway, you may come across two foxes seemingly stuck together back to back and unable to separate. Please be assured that this 'copulatory tie' is a completely normal part of the fox breeding process and they will separate by themselves in about 30 minutes! With any luck, you may hear the pattering of tiny paws in 52 days time! 🦊

As they roam their territories in search of a mate, it's also the time of year where many foxes stray onto roads... Wildlife rescue centres around the UK see a huge spike in RTA (road traffic accident) cases at this time of year, so PLEASE be extra careful when driving for the next few months!

Well... it seems like it's not just Santa that came down the chimney this year! 🎅We're not quite sure if this herring gu...
26/12/2024

Well... it seems like it's not just Santa that came down the chimney this year! 🎅

We're not quite sure if this herring gull was trying to deliver presents, but he did manage to get stuck inside a chimney for more than three days... Luckily rescued, he was quite collapsed on arrival but perked up with a healthy dose of warmth, fluids and food.

Now fighting fit and much more feisty, we have started the process of washing the soot from his feathers. It's not a process he seems to like, but it's vital to return his feathers to good condition before he can head to freedom.

Give it time, little gull, we will help you get back to the skies!

🎄 Merry Christmas from all of us at SEWH! 🎄Whilst Christmas cheer fills the UK, our team are still hard at work at the h...
25/12/2024

🎄 Merry Christmas from all of us at SEWH! 🎄

Whilst Christmas cheer fills the UK, our team are still hard at work at the hospital making sure that all of our patients are fed, cleaned and medicated. With Sue and Tom still on duty throughout today, we are trying to do our best to give our patients the gift of a second chance at life ❤️

🦊 FREEDOM!! 🦊What bigger gift can we give a wild animal than a second chance to live out their lives in the wild? With C...
24/12/2024

🦊 FREEDOM!! 🦊

What bigger gift can we give a wild animal than a second chance to live out their lives in the wild? With Christmas now just a single day away, we're beyond delighted to have been able to give this little one (who needed help after getting her head stuck in a watering can) another chance at freedom!

Thank you all for making this possible. We say this a lot, but we really could not do this without your support! ❤

We hope you all have a fantastic day tomorrow! Merry Christmas and happy holidays from all here at SEWH! 🎄

Do you still need to buy presents before the big day tomorrow?!There is still time! In addition to our Lakeside gift sho...
24/12/2024

Do you still need to buy presents before the big day tomorrow?!

There is still time! In addition to our Lakeside gift shop being open today, our wildlife gift certificates are available to buy on our website!

With multiple options ranging from treating a fox with mange to feeding a baby seal for a day, each one comes with an instantly downloadable (and personalised) digital certificate for you to give you your friend or loved one!

To see the full range, please take a look at https://www.southessexwildlife.org/shop

As we head towards Christmas we are doing our very best to give this little fox the best possible present... Rescued aft...
23/12/2024

As we head towards Christmas we are doing our very best to give this little fox the best possible present...

Rescued after getting her head stuck in a watering can, she has been under treatment for minor neck injuries for a few days and, we're thrilled to say, has made amazing progress!

With her injuries now recovered, she has been signed off by Tom and should be heading back home just in time for Christmas 🎄❤️

Who wants to see her head home? 🥰

Today, we want to say a big THANK YOU to the Essex Police Control Room (along with two of their newest elves! 😁) for the...
22/12/2024

Today, we want to say a big THANK YOU to the Essex Police Control Room (along with two of their newest elves! 😁) for their amazing donation of food and supplies for our patients!

Even as Christmas time, we still have lots of mouths to feed and this will be a massive help! 🥰

Christmas is now around the corner, so please make sure you keep your garden visitors safe from toxic leftovers! 🎄Many h...
21/12/2024

Christmas is now around the corner, so please make sure you keep your garden visitors safe from toxic leftovers! 🎄

Many human foods are dangerous or even fatal for wildlife, including raisins, chocolate and cooked bones. Please, if you do feed your local wild animals, make sure to avoid anything on this list to give them the best chance. Remember, the argument 'they'll just find it in a bin anyway' is not an excuse to give them something toxic! 🚫❗️

As a good rule of thumb, if it's bad for dogs then it shouldn't be given to foxes! 🦊

PLEASE SHARE! If even one life is saved it's worth it!

Foxes have a reputation for being 'sly' and 'cunning'... but they also seem to get themselves in some very odd situation...
20/12/2024

Foxes have a reputation for being 'sly' and 'cunning'... but they also seem to get themselves in some very odd situations! 😫🦊

This young female had somehow managed to get her whole HEAD stuck in a watering can. Unable to see where she was going, she had been spotted by a member of the public and Penny N, one of our members of staff, set off to help.

Luckily, she was easily caught, but the watering can was on so tightly that Penny was forced to cut it away to get the poor fox's head free! With constriction damage a real worry so close to the neck, she was taken straight back to the hospital for examination.

Once safely with us, Alannah, another member of our team, was able to check her over. Amazingly, other than a few small red marks the fox had escaped unscathed and was now quite lively!

We still need to monitor her just in case, but we think she may have been very lucky... watch this space! 🙏🤞🤞🦊

Recent storms have played havoc with the grey seal pup population and, in the last week alone, we have seen almost 10 ne...
19/12/2024

Recent storms have played havoc with the grey seal pup population and, in the last week alone, we have seen almost 10 new admissions needing our help. With very few places in the UK able to cater for the long term rehabilitation of seal pups, it's a very stressful time for all of us! 🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭🦭😫

This handsome boy was found in a very odd location... he was on a road next to a barbed wire fence! Sadly, we don't think he managed to escape the perils of barbed wire and arrived with us with a nasty laceration to his side (in addition to several smaller wounds).

Although initially a little docile, rehydration and warmth has turned him into a rather feisty character and he is now healing well on a course of treatment and fish 🐟.

Seal rehab is both very hands on and very expensive... we will do our very best for each and every seal pup that lands on our doors, but we can only do it with your help. Please, if you would like to help us give thee fishy characters another chance, consider supporting our work with a donation at https://www.southessexwildlife.org/donate

WE NEED YOUR HELP 🙏

You may not want to believe it, but Christmas is a week today! 😱If you were still searching for the perfect gift for the...
18/12/2024

You may not want to believe it, but Christmas is a week today! 😱

If you were still searching for the perfect gift for the animal lover in your life, then we can definitely help! If you were looking for greetings cards, gift certificates or a VERY limited supply of our 2025 calendars (which are now available!), then please take a look at our online shop at https://www.southessexwildlife.org/shop

If you're near to Thurrock, then also make sure to visit our gift shop in Lakeside Shopping Centre! As their Charity of the Year for 2024-25 we have been given a lovely little gift shop and have LOADS of animal-themed gifts ready for you! We're down Brompton Walk on level 2!

❗WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES!❗We probably don't need to tell you why this fox needed rescuing... arriving earlier today, th...
17/12/2024

❗WARNING - GRAPHIC IMAGES!❗

We probably don't need to tell you why this fox needed rescuing... arriving earlier today, this poor boy has a large wound to the side of his face and several holes in his ear. We're not quite sure how he managed to get such nasty injuries, but he definitely needed a little human kindness! 🦊

Luckily, Kate from our vet team was quickly on hand to help. Under Tom's supervision she carefully cleaned each wound before coating each with a topical antiseptic (this is the blue colour).

Now recovering on a course of medications and treatments, this boy has a long road ahead of him, but we will do our very best to make sure he has the best chance of recovery.

If you wanted to help us give him the best treatment possible, please donate to his care at https://www.southessexwildlife.org/donate

16/12/2024

The time is finally here... After 51 days in our care, 'Rocky' - the young grey seal pup who was flown into our care from Jersey by private plane - has finally been given his second chance at life back in the wild ❤

Here is the moment he finally tasted the freedom he has been waiting for... 🦭

None of this would have been possible without the rescue efforts of BDMLR Channel Islands, the generosity of London Southend Jet Centre and, of course, the support of all of you. Your donations, no matter how small, make all of this possible.

Thank you for helping us give Rocky a chance.

❗️WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT!❗️It may not look like there's too much wrong with this swan at first glance, but a 'lump' o...
14/12/2024

❗️WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT!❗️

It may not look like there's too much wrong with this swan at first glance, but a 'lump' on his neck would turn out to need a LOT of work... 🦢

As you might be able to tell from the x-ray, this lump turned out to be a fishing hook that was so deeply imbedded in the swan's neck that there was nothing left externally. With the poor bird showing signs of both inflammation and infection, we only had one option - we had to get the hook out.

It may look like an easy operation, but this hook was so close to vital structures (and had been there for so long) that it took Tom a LOT of work to get it out. Thankfully, he persevered and this poor boy is now FINALLY on the road to recovery.

Sadly, discarded fishing equipment is a major issue for many animals and we see this sort of cause virtually daily. Whilst many fisherman do collect their line and hooks once done, some just cut stuck line free with horrific results. Please, please, please, if you do use this sort of equipment, make sure you take ALL of it home with you. This swan was lucky, but the next may not be...

Did you know that we're Lakeside Shopping Centre's Charity of the Year for 2024-25?!In addition to some fantastic fundra...
14/12/2024

Did you know that we're Lakeside Shopping Centre's Charity of the Year for 2024-25?!

In addition to some fantastic fundraising going on at Lakeside, we have kindly been given a shop on Brompton Walk (level 2) to sell animal-themed gifts!

We have LOADS of things available in time for Christmas, so please head down whilst you still can! We are open whenever Lakeside is open! ❤

Take a look at The Gift Sett to see more!

It's a very special   today! 🥳A lot of you have been asking for updates on the fox who managed to accidentally poison hi...
13/12/2024

It's a very special today! 🥳

A lot of you have been asking for updates on the fox who managed to accidentally poison himself by eating toxic berries and we have some great news for you... he's been released back home! ❤

After looking almost dead when he was first rescued by Nina, one of our volunteers, we're beyond delighted at the progress he made! Now bright, lively and eating well, we wish him the very best of luck back in the big wide world 🌍

If you wanted to help us make more stories like this possible, please give our patients a Christmas present at https://www.southessexwildlife.org/donate

Just £1 could help us save a life

Storm Darragh has played havoc across the UK in recent days, but it's not just humans that have paid the price...British...
12/12/2024

Storm Darragh has played havoc across the UK in recent days, but it's not just humans that have paid the price...

British Divers Marine Life Rescue have been responding to more than 20 callouts to injured pups each day and many of those are deemed unwell enough to require rescue. Just yesterday, our own 'seal team' were asked to prepare for three new pups with more expected over the coming days.

Whilst some have just been washed away from their mother, others (like this little white coat) have arrived with puncture injuries to the back and tail that require treatment. Believe it or not, but there are only around a dozen centres in the UK equipped for the long-term rehabilitation of seals so space fills up very quickly!

We will do our very best for each and every one but, at an estimated cost of £5,000 per seal to get them back to the wild, we can only do this with your help.

Please help us rescue the next generation of these stunning creatures by donating towards their care at https://www.southessexwildlife.org/donate

Address

Orsett Road
Orsett
RM163BH

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