Rescue news

East Sussex WRAS rescuers rushed to Princes Park in Eastbourne  today after reports of a swan with blood on its head and body.

Rescuers Chris Riddington and Katie Nunn Nash attended on site and found the swan in the inlet stream at the Wartling Road end of the park.  "There was blood around the swan's head and on its back where it has been preening. The swan kept shaking its head and was clearly in discomfort" said Chris. » Read more

Rescuers Kai Ahmed, Laura Carrick, Fiona Palmer and Chris Riddington from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service attended to a trapped pigeon in netting at Lewes Railway Station this evening.

The poor pigeon had been trapped in the netting at the front of the station and a number of taxi drivers called WRAS to express concerns. » Read more

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Rescuers Chris, Laura, Katie, Kathy and Trevor were called to catch a pigeon inside Uckfield Leisure Centre last night. Rescuer Sally attended during the day to assess the situation but decided it would be safer for a team to attend once the centre was closed to the public as the rescue would involve working around the swimming pool. » Read more

A walker witnessed a horrific uncontrolled dog attack on a herd of deer near Newick just before 5pm on Wednesday 8th February, resulting in the death of three female Fallow deer.

Debbie Ticehurst from Town Little Worth, was walking her dogs along a public footpath when she witnessed the incident. She said  “I heard a couple of dogs barking,  then a man shouting  ‘Luther’ which I assume was one of the dogs names. I then saw two herds of deer running in two different directions within 50 years of each other both being chased by dogs. One herd ran into the trees whilst the other went across two fields chased by a dark coloured whippet type dog, they disappeared out of sight but the barking persisted. As I walked back to my car I noticed the whippet dog running across the field back towards the man but then noticed two deer between two trees on the ground. One was clearly dead but the other was alive and on its back struggling, unable  to get up.   I was horrified and called East Sussex Wildlife Rescue straight away to get help and seek advice. As soon as I was off the phone I then noticed a third deer slighty further along the hedgerow struggling to get up too. The second dog was smaller and I think a terrier, and very vocal and the man clearly had no control over either dog.” » Read more

Veterinary ambulances from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) rushed to Eastbourne this evening after a motorist reported seeing a swan fly into the side of the A22 Golden Jubilee Way next to Shinewater Lake, Eastbourne tonight.

“Volunteer rescuers Kai Ahmed and Fiona Palmer from our hospital in Whitesmith and off duty Rescue Co-ordinator Chris Riddington from Eastbourne rushed to the dual carriageway after reports of the swan hitting the bridge barrier at the side of the road. The motorist was quite shocked after seeing the large white bird appear and spin round in the air after hitting the barrier. She was not sure if the swan then landed on the road or fell to the ground below the bridge. Out of concern that the swan could potentially get hit by a car or be seriously injured I sent a team to investigate” said WRAS founder Trevor Weeks. » Read more

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES OF INJURY, but also a great healing - As it is Hedgehog Day we thought we would share the amazing images of Vincent's recovery. She came in with a horrendous old head and neck injury from Framfield Road in Uckfield on 18th December. It was badly infected and we did not know if she would be saveable as one area in particular on her head was very deep and black, and it may have affected her ability to curl, it also looked like she would los her left ear. Amazingly mainly due to Katie's care and attention she has made a dramatic recovery, There is just a scar line now and she will hopefully regrow the last of her spines over the thickest scarring. She has now gone outside for the Winter as she is fit and well and what was left of her ear was saved. Go to the last picture to see her amazing recovery. » Read more