Press releases

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On Wednesday evening, 24th July, rescuers Keith & Sarah responded to a report from a member of the public that a fledgling gull had managed to get itself caught in fishing line in Newhaven Harbour. Upon reaching the location, the rescuers observed the gull stranded in the mud about 25 meters away from the closest viewpoint during low tide. Despite the bird's attempts to fly, the rescuers noticed fishing line near its mouth, tangled around a tree branch partially buried in the sand. Recognizing that the tide was rising, they understood they had a limited window to save the gull before it could be submerged. » Read more

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Wednesday morning just before 7am, our emergency line received two disturbing phone calls about a road casualty swan on Wartling road just south of Wartling village, on the Pevensey Levels.

One of the callers witnessed a van plough into a swan without hesitation, without braking nor taking avoiding action. They did not stop to check whether the swan was injured, alive or killed, they just kept going. According to the caller, the swan was plenty visible enough from a distance and the driver could have stopped or avoided the swan. The caller followed the van and was able to get a registration number and has reported the incident to the Police. » Read more

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In 2023, East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service handled 394 confirmed road wildlife casualties, along with an additional 263 suspected incidents.

The charity is urging motorists to be cautious on the roads, especially during this time of year when many wild animals and birds are active and may be crossing roads. This reminder follows an incident where a cygnet was fatally struck just north of Alfriston on Monday (15th July) and another cygnet got separated from its family. » Read more

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A hedgehog in Montacute Way, Uckfield, was rescued after being discovered with plastic tightly wrapped around its body. Tony Neads, a rescuer from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service, promptly responded and transported the hedgehog to WRAS's Casualty Centre in Whitesmith. Upon arrival, the charity's veterinary surgeon immediately examined the hedgehog. » Read more

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A massive THANK YOU goes out to our dedicated staff and volunteers who are tirelessly assisting the wildlife in East Sussex. The past few weeks have been incredibly hectic and hot! The workload has been immense, with many long days and nights and minimal sleep at times. Our hospital is consistently at or around full capacity, and we sometimes need to use temporary cages when there is a backlog waiting for release. » Read more

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East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service is asking the public to be vigilant and report any instances of cruelty toward wildlife by young individuals.

The plea comes after the charity received several complaints about youths throwing stones at waterfowl and seals, kicking waterfowl, and shooting ball bearings at wild birds in East Sussex in recent weeks. » Read more

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"I am reaching out to share my concerns about how we will manage this spring and summer and to seek your assistance" said Trevor Weeks MBE WRAS Founder & Operations Director.

In 2023, we experienced an 18% increase in the number of casualties we handled, totalling nearly 6000, making it our busiest year on record. More than half of the mammals we treated are on the Vulnerable Conservation list, and 52% of the birds are listed as Red or Amber by the RSPB, indicating a decline in their populations. This surge strained all our resources to the maximum, coinciding with a decrease in our fundraising income. Regrettably, we anticipate similar challenges for 2024. » Read more