Hedwig the short-eared owl heads back to the wild

Submitted by Steve on 18:05, 3rd Nov, 2015 | 0

On the first day of November the GSPCA received a very unusual rescue bird who had been found in the road in the south west of Guernsey.

An injured young short-eared owl was found in the road and brought into the care of the GSPCA.

Thankfully the bird had only minor injuries and after a few days of cage rest and a check over from the vet she was rung for identification purposes and released today.

Short-eared owls can only be found in certain parts of the UK and there are sightings of a few birds here in Guernsey.

Share

Baby Barn Owl back in the wild

Submitted by Steve on 19:42, 20th Oct, 2015 | 0

Back in late July the GSPCA Ambulance Collection Officer Geoff George helped rescue a baby Barn Owl in Castel.

The young bird was severely thin and very close to loosing her life.

Thankfully with the skills of the team at the GSPCA and an intensive care unit the young bird was saved and nursed back to health.

After a period inside she was transferred to an outside aviary where she learnt to fly and forage for food.

As she grew stronger and her weight increased the GSPCA team monitored her progress with a wildlife camera.

Share

Percy Pricklesworth the hedgehog heads back to the wild

Submitted by Steve on 19:53, 3rd Sep, 2015 | 0

With hundreds of hedgehogs rescued every year it is always lovely to wave them off when they are fully recovered back to the wild.

On the 23rd July a very little hedgehog was found in St Martins thin and a number of health concerns.

After 6 weeks of care and TLC GSPCA Shelter staff contacted the finders who helped rescue and name 'Percy Pricklesworth' to collect him and return him to the wild.

Share

Peter the young kestrel rescued, reared, rung and released

Submitted by Steve on 16:12, 1st Aug, 2015 | 0

On the 26th June a very young, starving kestrel was found on a road in St Peters.

With no mother in site and traffic back and forth the bird was rescued and brought to the GSPCA in St Andrews.

He was placed in an intensive care unit and still had much of his down and not fully feathered due to his age.

Day and night he was hand fed by the team at the Shelter until he was fit enough to place in one of our rehabilitation aviaries.

Over the last few weeks he has built his strength and learnt to fly and forage for food.

Share

Spring is in the air - Pumpkin and Parsnip off back to the wild

Submitted by Steve on 22:53, 3rd Apr, 2015 | 0

As the days get longer and the temperature rises the weather is just right for some of our prickly Winter residents to head back to the wild.

Pumpkin the hedgehog was found by Michelle Johansen near Ville au Roi last November at only 330g which would have meant she wouldn't have survived the Winter.

Parsnip was found early December at only 356g in a similar area by Michelle.

Both hedgehogs have spent the Winter at the GSPCA and with the weather just right and Pumpkin up to 960g and Parsnip at 872g they have both reached more than needed in weight to be released.

Share

High Winds due - advice from the GSPCA

Submitted by Steve on 09:21, 11th Dec, 2014 | 0

The GSPCA asks that you think of your animals with the weather bomb due.

Bad weather means it is difficult for hedgehogs and wild birds to feed normally, and young seal pups can easily be separated from their mothers.

Below is some advice on what you can do if you find an injured animal, but please remember we have a 24 hour emergency service and our number is 01481 257261.

If possible, contain the animal before calling - see our capture and boxing advice below.

Capture and boxing

Share

Blue the Gannet released back to the wild

Submitted by Steve on 16:30, 5th Dec, 2014 | 0

On the 15th October a young gannet was rescued from Grande Rocques that was extremely weak and very ill.

The bird had to be kept under a heat lamp and was placed on a series of treatments and medications.

Also the poor gannet found it extremely difficult to digest food, and required feeding assistance.

The bird was named 'Blue' and after 3 weeks of intensive care and a period of rehabilitation on the GSPCA pool's the gannet was fit enough to release last week.

Sadly the weather wasn't ideal so staff waited until Saturday 29th November.

Share

Porridge a Little Egret at the GSPCA

Submitted by Steve on 16:27, 28th Jul, 2014 | 0

On Thursday last week the GSPCA were called out to rescue a Little Egret in St Sampsons.

Porridge as the pretty white bird is called is believed to be a young bird that could not fly.  He was found in the grounds of the prison and is recuperating at the Shelter.

Over the weekend we tried a release but Porridge decided he wasn't quite fit enough to go.

Share

Guernsey Press video of the seal release

Submitted by Steve on 11:00, 27th May, 2014 | 0

Here is a video of the seal release thanks to Adrian Miller and Guernsey Press.

If you missed the story of the seal release then here it is again -

Friday the 23rd May was not only a joyous and wonderful day for the team at the GSPCA, but also filled with tears and hope.

Share

Seal pups Trinity and Eden are back in the wild - Thank you to all involved with the fantastic release on Jethou

Submitted by Steve on 16:05, 24th May, 2014 | 0

Friday the 23rd May was not only a joyous and wonderful day for the team at the GSPCA, but also filled with tears and hope.

Grey seal pups Trinity and Eden who were rescued in January of this year were found very close to death and if it hadn't been for the rescue and rehabilitation at the GSPCA Animal Shelter in St Andrews, Guernsey then they certainly wouldn't have made it in the wild.

Yesterday morning GSPCA staff made preparations to release the young seal pups which were rescued separately earlier this year.

Share