Even if you spot an animal in need of help in your garden, you could still injure yourself. For example, you could chase your injured friend around your grass and flowers and become so focused on the chase (just like a hunting animal), you could completely forget about your clothes line and WHAM! next thing you know you’re staring up at the sun and clouds wondering how on earth did that happen. (I’ve done it!). So here is our advice learned from a lot of successful and unsuccessful rescues:

1. You have spotted an animal that looks injured or unwell. First of all OBSERVE the creature from a distance. Is it really in need of your help? Observe for a little while at least and then when you have decided you should intervene …

2. THINK - IS IT SAFE TO HELP? Don’t put yourself or others at risk. For example, if you spot a hedgehog on the road don’t get run over or cause another car to swerve and injure the driver etc. When you do think it’s safe to do a rescue…

3. FORM A PLAN FIRST. If you just run up to an animal you will most likely fail even if it is injured or unwell. Try doing a flanking manoeuvre and/or get someone else to distract the animal.

4. USE A TOWEL, BLANKET OR COAT to throw over the animal. This will help you catch the creature, help the animal feel slightly less stressed, protect you from bites or pecking and also from any germs or parasites the creature may have. It will also stop your germs and smell going onto animal too.

5. ALLOW THE ANIMAL TO BREATH in your wrappings and place it into some kind of box or the boot of your car. Then carefully take a good look at the animal to see what seems to be wrong. If it appears very injured or ill i.e. bleeding, struggling to breathe, unconscious, etc. then try and get it to a vet ASAP and say we will pay for any costs (which we will). Or if it is conscious at least, and not in any immediate life threatening condition, then try and get it to us or phone us up.

6. MAKE IT COMFORTABLE if it has to stay in your box for a while. Make it warm and place some water down for it in a tray. Perhaps try to drip some water around its lips or beak with a spoon or something, as it probably hasn’t drunk for a while. Only give a little as you could drown it. We will come and help ASAP.