Here's an overview of our UKWT survey, so far. The survey is to gather data on the transport gap, on the kind of help that wildlife casualties and orphans are already getting and opinions on a national infrastructure to ensure that wildlife casualties and orphans ALWAYS get to emergency medical & rehabilitative care...
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'COMMENTS' from this question featured the following answers...
Usually for Wild Things Rescue when they need a casualty transferring from the Vets to their Centre. |
I have chronic fatigue so can only drive a short distance. |
I do not drive. |
Maybe - not sure as not my car. |
I don’t have a working car but my husband does and he/we frequently drive to rescue or arrange a casualty to be delivered. We rehab bats and will take birds, hedgehogs as a temporary measure and would take on mice/rats if it occurred. |
I work full-time, so this can be a challenge as the nearest general rescue is over an hour away! |
I can't drive myself, my husband will generally transport when he's free but is sometimes away and works 5 days. |
I can transport within a local radius. |
I don't drive but there's some nice people who would give me a lift if they can. |
Most of the time. Needed transport once. |
I don’t drive and live in a village with no public transport and no one to transport me. I don’t know anyone here and it’s difficult to find anyone for lifts anywhere. Even if I need a Dr it’s a problem atm. |
Depending on size… |
I don’t have a car (couldn’t afford upkeep of petrol so had to sell) but insured on my Mum’s car so in an emergency if I can I would drive. |
I don't drive unfortunately. |
Yes with the right equipment, traps, cage’s. |
Depends on work commitments. |
Not for all animals as need training on handling. |
Depends on the size and if my car is working. |
Depends on location, time of day and urgency. Leaving birds under treatment and feeds to spend time traveling puts them at risk eg 20 min feeds. |
Not deer. |
I don't drive so I'm totally reliant on others in this respect. |
Regularly transport seal pups and bats. |
Very few rehab places up here. |
Although not trained to pick up large birds or mammals. |
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In answer to the question added onto this last chart, "What would it mean to you?" here are the answers thus far...
Brilliant on paper but unfeasible as councils, landowners and farmers legally destroy wildlife. Hence there is in some cases 80% loss of species due to habitat destruction. There are already devoted small charities in place, which should be supported. The RSPCA and RSPB are disgraceful though for their lack of care. The RSPB could do such much more with its millions ie set up Rescue Centres for paid Rehabbers and Training Centres for the general public for example but it doesn't. I have been told by all the rehabbers I've met over the years that have done amazing work that fancy expensive equipment isn't necessary to transport the casualties, just common sense and a safe carrier, that can come in many guises. I have transported foxcubs, seagulls and a host of other wildlife creatures.  Habitat destruction is the biggest threat. |
Everything. Although we are stewards of this environment, it belongs equally to other wild beings. We must give them care and protection. A national infrastructure would help to deliver this. |
Good times for wildlife. |
Help for rehabbers getting wildlife to relevant rescue or vets. |
A great deal. I don't believe living being are not entitled to care because they are non-humans. |
I think it would encourage more people to help wildlife knowing that they could contact someone that would then come in a vehicle and take any injured animal to the appropriate vet/rescue. |
Peace of mind that there is support when needed. |
It would mean that the general public would have someone to contact upon finding injured wildlife. |
It is vital that it would happen as a lot of suburbs need help with transport or even finding a vet that would treat the creature instead of euthanasing it as costs are high treating wildlife. |
Peace of mind. Shouldn't be just volunteers and charities that help and support. We are the rats. Wildlife deserves better.. |
The world. |
We can get Birds to Rehabbers so much quicker. |
It’s more about what it would mean for wildlife than for me. It would mean a second chance for so many. |
Everything. It's a no brainer. |
Peace of mind. |
No animal should suffer when humans are capable of easily helping them, many would say that they would take them to a vet but are totally unaware that some vets aren't wildlife friendly so they need to know this. |
A national service, with a network of specialist vets, plus an ambulance service for domestic pets too, would exemplify and embody our view of ourselves as being a nation of animal lovers. It would relieve pressure on me personally and encourage a greater proportion of the public to intervene with more casualties, because they'd know what to do to help. |
A lot, because I have the skills to rehab bat casualties and raise orphans but no car and limited funds. |
Rescues do not have the resources to transport animals... Neither do vets! Members of the public are so often unwilling to transport an animal to a rescue centre (I think they assume there is a government agency for this purpose). Often our wildlife dies in terrible pain in the hands of well-meaning members of the public. |
Very important, we need to help wildlife. |
It would mean everything to me but it's about what that would mean to wildlife. |
It would be wonderful to know I could get the best help for injured wildlife at any time. |
It's important that wildlife get emergency aid ad they are just entitled as humans. I help people so think it’s important that wildlife/animals get the same treatment. |
Prevention, advice when needed, help when the animal needs it. |
Unnecessary pain and suffering to wildlife can be avoided. |
So much as it's so costly to do this as well as take care of the animals. Less donations than ever this year too. |
Would be fantastic to save as many animals as possible. |
We see similar issues in getting injured Swifts or abandoned chicks to suitable care. And the same for House Martins. Both these birds need specialist care but carers are few and far apart although some carers are helping and supporting others who want to learn. |
Peace of mind that there's help out there. |
It would be very important to me , especially as I live in the countryside and seeing dying animals (normally rabbits with myxie and the occasional fox with horrific injuries that would kill them before getting transport to a vet or waiting for a vet to come out) is normally put out of it's pain there and then, normally by farmers who are experienced and equipped to end their suffering as quickly and as humanely as possible. |
It would mean the world to me to know we're looking after our wildlife as they bring me so much joy. |
It's heartbreaking seeing wild animals struggle because they are ill. Most people walk by and sometimes it's so hard to find a rescue space. |
A lot. |
It's not what it means to me or you, it what's Important to the animal kingdom’s survival. Man is destroying natural habitat by building homes. etc etc |
It would make me very happy but more important it would mean when I find injured animals i know they will get the help they need . I had 2 birds die because were injured and i couldn’t get help for them for 2 days and it made me cry…. A lot. |
Wildlife is under so much pressure these days, they need all the help we can provide. |
Hopefully continue to be part of it. To be able to access more contacts re help. |
A nation wide network could save countless little lives and that's what matters. |
Would be very satisfying to see all our lovely wildlife given the best chance possible. |
As a vet nurse we have sometimes struggled get wildlife to more appropriate rehabbers. I have transported wildlife myself on numerous occasions but this isn't always possible. Long term stays at a vet practice can be extremely stressful to wildlife. |
Peace of mind that any wildlife creatures would have the best chance of appropriate care/rehab. |
I think remembering as we grow and expand our towns/cities… We are developing through their land. I think ethically and morally the right thing to do would be to give back to nature, and remember we are part of it. The more connected people become to nature, the more people will learn to respect it. |
West Yorkshire has lost 3 amazing wildlife rehabbers over the years and it's difficult to find anywhere now. |
It would be great to have a well known about system that allows public / vets / wildlife rehabbers to give the best care to ALL wildlife. |
Would be bureaucratic nightmare. Much better organising locally. |
Be less of a worry. |
Being able to provide wildlife the opportunity to survive would be extremely satisfying and emotionally fulfilling. Every animal deserves the right to be free from pain and suffering; being able to provide a transportation system would enable them to receive the care they need to alleviate that suffering and hopefully a chance of survival. |
This would be so incredible. |
Contact wildly available for public with help offered 24/7. |
It would make me very happy to know that more wildlife could get the help they need and hopefully a higher success rate. |
It would allow me to focus on rehabbing, as a lot of my time is taken up trying to organise a casualty or orphan to get to me to triage, sometimes prolonging suffering if they need urgent vet care or euthanasia. I find the public do not know where to find help, try inappropriate places such as RSPB, I get many via local facebook sites, delays costing many lives or allowing wannabee rehabbers to get the patient or advise inaccurate care. Collared dove babies syringe fed cat food eventually brought to me and dying in my hands at hand over, totally avoidable. |
There were two answers against a national infrastructure and I am so pleased that they were given as they're great concerns and need answering...
"Would be a bureaucratic nightmare. Much better organising locally."
My reply to this very valid concern is ...
"Based on working with Vet Practices & Wildlife Rescues for the last 3 years, across the UK... What is required, I think, is a national infrastructure that is structured, from the start, to enable localised, self sustaining pockets of transport support for individual areas WHILST also enabling wildlife who are found needing help in 'blank' areas in the UK (areas without any or many Rescues and with only a few Vet Practices) to be picked up & transported outside of their catchment area ASAP to Vet Practices & Rescues further afield who can help them.
This would be established by providing Wildlife Rescues & especially Vet Practices with their own teams of Volunteer Wildlife Transport Drivers (recruited, equipped & funded by UKWT) so that they can have the resources that they need to help wildlife ASAP... Once UKWT has set up the initial structure (and everyone has settled into the new set up) any UKWT centralised involvement is minimal & purely supportive.
Rescues can have Drivers (with UKWT funding fuel) to send out to pick up from members of the public & Vet Practices. Equally, Vet practices will have access to Drivers who can not only bring wildlife into them (from members of the public who can't drive) but they will, even more importantly, be able to move treated wildlife out of the practice and across to Rescues to longer term rehab ASAP.
In my experience, UKWT has historically made the biggest difference in 'blank' areas, hours from most Wildlife Rescues. Of those wildlife casualties/orphans that UKWT has helped in these areas, over the years, our protocol became that we would negotiate with local Vet Practices to treat the wild animal initially (offering emergency triage and pain relief) and then the animal would be transported further to a Wildlife Rescue. What UKWT wants to set up now, is for these Vet Practices to have their own teams of drivers and protocols of their own in place to take in a wild animal, provide emergency treatment and then call on their Volunteer Drivers to immediately transport the stabilised animal, free from pain, across to the nearest Wildlife Rescue, even if that Rescue is an hour away or more. This would help many 1000s of wild lives and will provide support, locally, with very little centralised overseeing from UKWT Admin staff (once the structure has been set up and everyone is used to the new practices)."
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"Brilliant on paper but unfeasible as councils, landowners and farmers legally destroy wildlife. Hence there is in some cases 80% loss of species due to habitat destruction. There are already devoted small charities in place, which should be supported. The RSPCA and RSPB are disgraceful though for their lack of care. The RSPB could do such much more with its millions ie set up Rescue Centres for paid Rehabbers and Training Centres for the general public for example but it doesn't.
I have been told by all the rehabbers I've met over the years that have done amazing work that fancy expensive equipment isn't necessary to transport the casualties, just common sense and a safe carrier, that can come in many guises. I have transported foxcubs, seagulls and a host of other wildlife creatures. Habitat destruction is the biggest threat."
My reply to this very valid concern is ...
"Yes there are absolutely lots of devoted small charities in place. None, however, do what UKWT has been set up to do and is now growing even further to do: filling the UK wildlife transport gap. UKWT is, at its core (in partnership with the Wildlife Care Badge) a supportive structure to fill in logistical & transport support within the Wildlife Rescue Industry.
With regards to the RSPCA & RSPB. As far as UKWT is concerned, every organisation has been set up to help wildlife in their own way. UKWT is here to fill in the gap that is remaining and that others aren't currently covering as they are focusing on their own important & valid priorities.
With regards to 'fancy equipment' not being necessary to transport, yes I totally agree. High welfare during transport is an absolute must however and that's why UKWT has a 15 page welfare policy from specialist solicitors & why our UKWT Drivers are all equipped with a large & a small carrier (with air vents carefully situated so as to not cause further accidental harm to a wild life during a journey, such as catching wing tips or being in reach for small rodents to try and squeeze through, harming themselves very badly) as well as a defra approved disinfectant (not tested on animals in labs).
I totally agree also with the final point - 'habitat destruction is the biggest threat' - and this is why UKWT is a wildlife 'emergency' service with my 'wild services' organisation - Wildscaping Worldwide - seeking to enable UK spaces themselves to be supportive to wildlife and to prevent unnecessary harm such as litter and traps/poisons."