It’s that baby time of year

Early on Friday Morning - 20th June 2008 - a pregnant fallow deer was found on the A22 Uckfield Bypass near the East Sussex National Golf Course. East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) attended onsite and Sussex Police even closed the A22 for safety during rush hour whilst the deer was rescued and loaded into one of WRAS’s veterinary ambulances.

The deer was rushed to Horsebridge Vets where she was carefully treated and assessed to be pregnant. "This posses a problem for road casualties as you need to be careful on which treatments you give and how you handle them" said WRAS’s Casualty Care Manager Tim McKenzie.

No fractures could be found but there was nasty bruising to the spine. Once stable she was transported up to the specialist deer hospital at St Tiggywinkles in Buckinghamshire by Trevor Weeks and Tony Neads from WRAS where she is now being assessed and monitored closely.

"Using straw donated by Sussex Horse Rescue, we bedded her down in our ambulance and she was placed on an intravenous drip and driven the 3 hours journey to Haddenham in Buckinghamshire" said Trevor Weeks WRAS’s Rescue Co-ordinator, "we were really pleased she made it ok and she has now been settled in one of their special deer stables where she is awaiting a more detailed assessment on Monday."

"We would like to thank Sussex Police for their support and help with this rescue" said Tim McKenzie.

Baby Deer at Crawley

This is the second deer which has been taken to St Tiggywinkles in 24 hours with a baby fallow deer being rushed up at midnight on Thursday after being knocked by a car near Crawley. WRAS attended and dealt with the youngster after the finder had difficulty in finding anyone else willing to attend.

"We have driven over 350 miles dealing with these two deer and given up over 15 hours to dealing with their rescue and transportation" said Trevor, " there aren’t many organisations that would be willing to do that."

Other Babies dealt with by WRAS

WRAS has also dealt with a nest of six baby hedgehogs this week which were born in a coat at the back of a garage in Hailsham. Unfortunately they were disturbed and the mum abandoned them. "It is very important that nest of hedgehogs are not disturbed regardless of what material has been used by their mum or how dirty or smelly the bedding is, mum will abandon her young if they are disturbed too much."

One very poorly pregnant hedgehog had to have an ultrasound and then a caesarean section where she was found to be carrying 13 babies which had all died. Normally hedgehogs have about 5-6 babies.

Four bats have been dealt with this past week too by WRAS rescuers. Two adult cat attacked bats have been rescued and taken to the Sussex Bat Hospital. One of which was lactating and had a baby somewhere. "Unfortunately as this female has been caught by a cat and injured she will not be fit enough to look after a baby and the baby will no doubt die as a result of its mum being caught by a cat" said Trevor.

Two other baby bats have been found. One at Plumpton and another at Eastbourne. Both were taken to the Sussex Bat Hospital by WRAS. Unfortunately one of them died but the other is doing really well.

WRAS Baby Deer rescues

WRAS has been called to deal with three baby deer so far this year. A baby roe deer near Gatwick, a baby fallow from Crawley and a second baby fallow from Blackham near East Grindstead which was caught in stock fencing. "We would like to express of thanks to all the staff at St Tiggywinkles of their huge support and advice with dealing with these baby deer" said Trevor.

Advice

WRAS is asking people not to jump to the conclusion that a baby mammal has been abandoned but to phone for advice first before touching. "A baby deer should not be out in the open on short grassland," said Trevor, "and baby hedgehogs should not be wandering and calling for their mum." If you are at all concerned please phone the 24hr rescue line on 07815 078234.

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Press Contact: Trevor Weeks, East Sussex WRAS, 07931 523958
Tim McKenzie, East Sussex WRAS, 07931 523958

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