RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife

02/07/2025

Huge thank you to the whole team at ‘Vets for Pets Hereford’ for your care towards the this beautiful bird! An amazing example of what vets and local wildlife organisations can achieve🤩

We’re so excited to have Oona here with us!

30/06/2025

🌞 Hot Weather Reminders 🌞

With the temperatures due to reach 28°+ today, a gentle reminder to take extra care with your pets as well as yourselves.

- Walk dogs at dawn or dusk. If in doubt, don't go out.

- Make sure your pets have access to plenty of fresh water. You can even pop a few ice cubes in!

- Ensure they have access to shade throughout the day.

- Give them a damp towel to lie on.

- Never leave an animal in a warm vehicle.

30/06/2025

It’s hot out there!! Please give wildlife a helping hand and provide a shallow dish of water for bathing and drinking 🐦‍⬛

27/06/2025

27/06/2025

26/06/2025

You may remember the otter cub, named Hughie, that we cared for back in February. Since being transferred to the UK Wild Otter Trust, they have kept us up to date with his progress and he’s been doing very well!
He was mixed with another orphan cub named Otis and now, having grown up together, they are completely besotted with one another 🥹

As you can see from the photos they are much bigger than our last update! They also reported that the young males are displaying all the natural behaviours that they need to ensure they thrive in the wild! These two still have some growing to before they are released. Here they are 4kg, however adult males can grow to 11kg!

25/06/2025

We're still incredibly busy with our fledgling birds this year, especially now the hirundine season has begun 🐣

The first challenge when admitting these delicate little beings is identifying exactly what they are! This is essential to ensure they are getting the correct diet and enclosure when in care with us. Each species has their own specifications that we need to adhere to, ensuring they grow up to be as healthy as possible.

Thankfully, we have many well trained staff with years of experience to help us along the way (though sometimes even we are stumped!)

These two small garden bird species often get mixed up by members of the public as they are so similar in size and colouring... can you tell them apart? Comment your suggestions below!! 😛

24/06/2025

The recent heat wave we've had means it's more important than ever to put water out for wildlife🌞

Whether it's a shallow dish, bird bath or a wildlife pond it will all help the local wildlife in this heat! Also, cleaning water sources regularly will help to reduce the spread of diseases.

23/06/2025

Glue traps are something we strongly oppose due to the immense suffering they cause 😔

Although it is an offence for the public to use these traps, it is not an offence to purchase them and they are still being sold across the country. If you know of a retailer selling glue traps please let us know by emailing [email protected] and we will contact them to explain why they shouldn’t stock them.

20/06/2025

It’s the time of year when walking pom poms, also known as gull chicks, start appearing on roofs across the country!

These little fluffballs can often find themselves on the ground and out of the nest too early. If you find a young chick on the ground please follow the advice on our website or call our centre if you need to bring one in - 0300 123 0721. Lines are open 8.30am -9pm.

Injured chicks will need veterinary attention as soon as possible 🚑

https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/wildlife/birds/baby/gulls

17/06/2025

🚗💚 Love animals? Like driving? We've got the perfect volunteer role for you 🐾

Our centre is looking for volunteer drivers to help keep things moving – literally!
You'll be:
🥒 collecting food and supplies from various places (including heaps of courgettes - they're a firm favourite!
🚗 taking our centre vehicles for MOTs and services
🛠️ taking equipment for repairs
📦 taking parcels to the Post Office
🧥 dropping items off at local RSPCA charity shops

If you're reliable, enjoy a good road trip (with purpose!), and want to make a real difference to animals in need – we’d love to have you on board.

Join our team and be a road warrior! Click below to find out more and apply:
👉 https://volunteer.rspca.org.uk/opportunities/26180-volunteer-rspca-van-driver-volunteer-driver-non-animal-transportation-2022-02-22

Volunteer drivers support the vital work of RSPCA West Hatch Animal and Wildlife Centre by transporting items for us (non animal related in this role) to help us in our everyday operations.

17/06/2025

This little hog is having his first taste of food!

He has been hand reared since young by one of our expert orphan rearers and now he has grown little teeths, he is ready to take on the messy business that is weaning 🍽️