Feedback
We really hope that you have found our website helpful and we’d love to hear your feedback either way.
Feedback about a particular rescue
If you have feedback about a rescue listed in our directory, please visit their listing page and comment on their feedback tab so your comments are linked to the right rescue.
Feedback about HelpWildlife.co.uk
If you made use of the advice or rescue directory on this website, received help through our Facebook advice page, or contacted us for help by email, we’d love to hear your feedback on whether and how we helped. If you have any suggestions for improvements, we’d be delighted to hear those too.
Whoever you leave feedback for, please be mindful that it will be a charity, quite possibly run by volunteers giving up their time – please be polite. We welcome constructive, considered feedback but may edit or delete comments which are unpleasant in tone or content.
Please don’t comment asking for help with casualties as we may not see your post in time. If you are in need of advice please visit our help page or, for general enquiries, our contact page.
Thank you for setting up this helpful directory 🙂
PS. I registered and set up a profile on Friday but when I now try to login it says my username is invalid?
Thanks, Nicky, will email you to work out the issue with your account
Today I found a young hedgehog wandering , distressed in my lane in Longworth, . There was too little website information on your charity for me to bring it to you. Instead I travelled to Haddenham, in rush hour, to find it a safe place. Your website needs clearer contact information and directions, especially with regard to getting an animal somewhere safe outside ordinary working hours..
Not including full addresses (and therefore directions) for rescues is a deliberate decision because most rescues aren’t able to cope with finders just turning up, either through lack of capacity or because they run from a location which isn’t manned 24/7. We encourage you to telephone the rescues in your area to get agreement that they can take your casualty in and they can obviously then provide you with the full address and directions.
Thank you for the supporting page I have managed to find help for baby hedgehogs
The website is complicated, lacks information and a poor map that is difficult to interact with. It is one of the worst websites I have come across. By the time I have found help to give to a rook I have found I almost feel like not bothering. I think you are letting the UK’s wildlife down by appearing to have something in place where they can be helped and the reality of actually being able to easily access information and help. I love wildlife and this site has made me wonder how many casualties have been abandoned or not… Read more »
So it looks like you might have missed the note above about constructive criticism. We have this feedback facility so that visitors can tell us if they find aspects of the site difficult but comments like this tell us nothing about what the problem is and so do nothing to help us make changes. This site isn’t run by web designers but by volunteers with a passion for helping wildlife. We’re doing our best, putting many hours of work into trying to help and comments like this make us wonder why we bother, frankly. What really hurts is the insinuation… Read more »
A fantastic directory that I stumbled across when looking for help regarding an injured pigeon I’d found. This site directed me to Every Feather, a local place for rehab and rescue for pigeons. That evening the pigeon was in an incubator at Every Feather. On meeting Stephanie I found her to be a kind gentle person, I was immediately impressed by her knowledge and handling of the bird. I left feeling confident that the bird was in a good place.
My cat kindly bought home two baby squirrels for me last week. After calling my local vets i was directed to this site. I called the rescue centre nearest to my location and received lots of helpful advise on how to care for them until they could be picked up. My children were sad to see them go and are eager to find out if they were ok?
This site was recommended by one of the bird rescue groups I am part of on Facebook and I am so glad they did because it is useful to know where rescue places are and what animals are cared for. I have also recommended this site to others.
Thank you for setting it up.
Thanks for your very prompt service..couldn’t asked for better
service and most pleasant personell
Found a baby hedgehog in a blocked drain and was frantically searching for a rescue or help & advice centre nearest to us. Found that difficult & too time consuming, until I came across your page where all the places were listed, with a helpful map & distance information too. Brilliant search page and without it I would doubtlessly have been spending even longer trying to find somewhere in Cornwall and nearest to us, whilst poor little hedgie was needing our constructive help. Great page, thank you very much 😊
After being pushed from pillar to post I found this website which directed me to Swampys sweetness who were a great help.
Thanks to this website I was able to contact Lowton Hedgehog Rescue who gave advice regarding how to deal with a distressed hedgehog that we found in the garden. We took the hedgehog into the centre and the lady said she thought it may have concussion. Hopefully Hazel the hedgehog will recover so we will be able to collect her and return her to our garden.
Lots of useful telephone numbers and advice. Thank you. Nice to see it all in one place. Keep up the good work.
I found this website through the RSPB website. it was really helpful and I was swiftly provided with the contact details of a wildlife rescuer who happened to live in the next town. He was so helpful too. I am relieved that the bird will be looked after and is out of danger as my neighbourhood has quite a few cats (I have two also, but they were kept indoors). Thank you to the website and the kind rescuer!
Needed to find someone to help 2 baby hedgehogs found near my home. this website came up with a contact name near me and they were taken to the rescue centre for further care. Very helpful thank you.
I totally agree with your opinion on racing pigeons. One has been in my garden for nearly a week. He is fit and well. Eats and drinks with the other feral pigeons who visit my garden. I have no intention of finding its owner for fear of the sad consequences. He will i am sure return to his instincts. As far as I am concerned he is better off in my garden. I live in a very rural area lots of fields trees and a low level river. I have numerous wild burds visit my garden and I care for… Read more »
Thanks, Karen. Yes, if they are able to merge into a wild flock they usually do ok, especially with supportive feeding from kind people like you.
You fail to say where to take the bird. Rescue centres don’t exist anywhere near South Oxfordshire.
We can’t control where the rescue centres are, we can only list those that exist in our directory. If you’ve not been able to find a rescue in the directory, please visit helpwildlife.co.uk/help for further support.
I think the comments section would benefit from showing most recent comments first. When you first access it it looks like the most recent comment is 2006. Also you have to scroll a very long way down to get to the box to put your comment in.
Thanks for the feedback, I’ll look into what we can do to improve this 🙂
Sorted! Snazzy new comments plugin installed so comments can now be sorted by oldest or newest and the comment box appears at the top to save all that scrolling. Thanks for the suggestion, hopefully it will encourage more feedback 🙂
Wow! Well done Sarah that was amazingly responsive if you. Best wishes.
Great site. Having just rescued a baby wren from our balcony I was worried it would be rejected by parents. But greatly reassured by you saying they don’t have a great sense of smell. It rested on my hand for a while then flew off very strongly and in the right direction so fingers crossed. Thank you.
Thanks to your help we have made room for our resident baby Hog. but as soon as we put the phone down to report we discovered two more babies. following all the advise and help to make our life in their world easier. Will do our best to protect the little ones.
Found the number of my local rescue centre immediately from the website and advice about finding a baby hedgehog which is now on its way to my local rescue centre.
Thank you.
This is by far the best website for wildlife rescue I have found.
It is always difficult to keep these lists up to date but I found two rescues that are no longer in operation. One is Three Owls Bird Sanctuary and Reserve. There used to be an excellent bird / animal hospital at this site but now only telephone advice is given. The other is Hedgehog Rescue in Rochdale, another excellent place, which now sadly shows as a permanently closed.
I’m sure that I will need to use this website in future. Many thanks and best wishes.
Thank you for the feedback, it’s very much appreciated. I’ll look into the rescues you mention and get their listings updated, thanks 🙂
Enabled me to find tel number of local Wildlife Aid Centre re young magpie that had flown down the chimney and was trapped in the lounge, as our windows open inwards vertically at the top only and he couldn’t manage the manouvre. Thank you.
Excellent source of information just when you need it fast and without fuss. Found a wildlife rescue centre near me that I never knew existed. So getting the baby hedgehog that I found wandering about during the daytime some help turned out to be more straightforward than I thought it was going to be. I knew the rspca would be a waste of time, so what a relief to find some one who could help me quickly.
Just found out about this website from Swan Life Line in Windsor and we will be sure to use it in future thank you. There is a phone number for Bishop’s Wood Swan Rescue (07977 209547) that doesn’t appear to be working, if you could check it out that would be great thanks, Rachel.
Thanks, Rachel. We’ll look into that straight away.
Hi, I’m a vet in west Yorkshire with an especial interest in wildlife. Like most vets, we ‘ll examine and do emergency treatment/euthanasia of all wildlife for free but I am increasingly frustrated by the rspca . Many people ring them first often causing delays and therefore increased suffering for the animal or give wrong advice ie picking up fledgling and bringing them to use when they’re not injured therefore loosing the chance of reuniting the bird with its parent. Had never heard of you but checked out wildlife centres near me, some of which we use but there are… Read more »
Hi Fran, thanks for getting in touch. We’d love to have you/your practice registered on our Community Heroes scheme and if you could send us details of any rescues not in the directory we’ll contact them to see if they’d like to be added to the directory. The RSPCA can be very frustrating, though usually we find it’s them telling people not to intervene when they should rather than vice versa. Unfortunately, they rarely recognise small, independent rescues such as those in our directory and so won’t refer people to them. They will only work with rescues they ‘approve’ which… Read more »
The foxwebsite.org that you give a link to is not the Bristol uni site, it’s a casino site in the US!!
Thank you for letting us know. It seems they’ve recently revamped and moved their website so I’ve updated the link to point to the new site.
Please don’t use your own map of rescue centres, use Google maps – then the info is available to all.
Hi Mike, we have used google for our map in the past but it took a great deal more work to maintain and was unfortunately unreliable. Regardless, I’m not sure I understand the issue you’re raising – our map of rescue centres is available to all.
Trying to find your phone number is hopeless.
Why don’t you list it prominently?
We don’t have the resources to offer a telephone service unfortunately. And in general it’s much better if folks get straight on and call their local wildlife rescue from the numbers in our directory…talking to us first would usually just add in delay.
I am looking after a dehydrated exhausted juvenile gull. I have read your section about baby birds and was pleased to see a separate category for gull chicks. It was very reassuring to know that young gulls often leave the nest before they are fully able to fly – this explained our patient’s predicament! He/she is feeding and drinking well, and I hope to open the cage door in a couple of days!
Thank you.
I was looking for rescue centres near me when I noticed one in the South Downs national park, however it was Hollycroft Hedgehog Rescue in Tillington, Hereford; which is not in the South Downs. Did not want to use feature on their page as not reviewing them in any way, just saying that they are appearing in the wrong spot on the map
Thank you so much for taking the time to flag this up. It turns out there is a Tillington near Petworth and our map had popped the marker there by mistake. I’ve now moved it – many thanks.
Alot of the centres have been discontinued and I was unable to speak to anyone about an injured pigeon. When I finally managed to locate someone in Somerset (there was no listing at all in Bristol and I don’t have a car) he was lovely but the pigeon had quietly died in the hours it had taken to locate anyone. Though the information on the site is useful, the cases studies are awful, which ends up creating extra anxiety to an all ready anxious situation. I’m really appreciate the contact I did make as he said he would help in… Read more »
Hi Claire,
Sorry to hear you had difficulties getting help. We do have other options on our help page so that folks can get in touch in these circumstances. Unfortunately we cannot control where rescues are located, only list those that exist, and many have closed in recent years either through retirement or lack of funds. I’m not sure what you mean by the case studies but if you can share any more information on that, we’d like to hear your feedback so we can make improvements.
This has helped me find a pigeon friendly rescue centre, I’m very grateful. Thank you.
Thank you, I have managed to find a pigeon friendly rescue centre due to this site. I looked after Pat the pigeon for 4 days but was finding it difficult as I have 2 cats and no area to keep the pigeon outdoors, which I think is probably best. This has been very helpful. I will be making a donation to the rescue centre I found in Great Wyrley.
I have often wondered why so many hedgehogs get run over…last night I got an incite. On an empty road I saw a lump in the road…it turned out be a hedge that had reacted to my car lights. As I approached, I could see it what it was an slowed down and steered around it…no problems so far. Then, when it obviously got rattled by the noise and vibration of my appraching car, it unfurled and moved right in front of me!!. I fortuntely just missed..but was very close…even though I was prepared and undistracrlted by anything else!! Any… Read more »
Hi Andy, yes their defence strategy might work well against most predators but it’s not ideal when faced with a car. Thanks for sharing 🙂
This site is incorrect I regarding foxes and domestic cats. I have had a fox coming up into our back garden. I saw it today praying on my cat and scared it off. Tonight my cat was out and attacked by the fox. My cat lost it’s foot and part of it’s tail and had to be taken into emergency. He is now going to have to have his whole leg amputated.
Hi Melissa, sorry to hear about your cats injuries. We don’t say it never happens, just that it’s highly unlikely. Logically, thinking about the numbers of foxes and cats in the country, if foxes were a significant threat, there would be cat attacks daily and plenty of evidence of them, which there isn’t. Did you actually see the fox attack the cat out of interest? It is possible the risk is higher this time of year when foxes have cubs as they may consider the cat a threat and defend their cubs against them.
Love the site ,but the link to the form to complete to offer to get involved does not seem to wor – is there any way you can send this to me?
Hi Su
Apologies, I’m just in the process of moving this on to a new system and it’s taken a little longer than planned as I’ve been caught up with poorly animals. It should be working again in the next few days if you don’t mind checking back then. Thanks 🙂 x
Very useful site. Please could you add an edit button to the comments section. I wrote some feedback late at night and couldn’t correct the mistakes so ending up leaving a few entries (please delete the earlier ones!).
Thanks. The comments are provided by a wordpress plugin so we are limited to what that can do but I’ll put on my list to have a look at others which might allow that option.
Thank you for your website and rescue service. A friend rescued a pigeon. The pigeon couldn’t walk and had a head injury. We were staying at a hotel. Unfortunately, it was after six and the other rescues were closed. RSPCA suggested taking the pigeon to a vet but there wasn’t any around. So we called the Pigeon Rescue Team from the Help Wildlife website The lady came within 2 hours. Apparently, she took the tube. So please donate to these nice folks. Thanks again!
Thanks for providing help and guidance on how to assist animals and birds in distress. There is nothing worse than not knowing what to do.
Thank you for this service and website. I rescued a frightened baby pigeon tonight on my way home from work. It was being preyed upon by two cats but I scared them off and was able to get a box from a neighbour. I didn’t know if anywhere would take it in. This website have me confidence I could find a vet and 2 hours later it was safely at a 24 hour vet. I hope it survives and thank my husband and landlord for their help with transport and loan of a car.
A very helpful website which helped me locate a wildlife rescue centre not that far away, which did take the injured woodpigeon which I was trying to find a place for. Unfortunately, two of the nearer rescue centres I had found on the website seemed to not be taking admissions or didn’t have a website/incorrect link – but one of those actually had a comment on their listing saying they weren’t taking new admissions, which at least saved me time trying to look at their website/call them to find out. Obviously wildlife rescue is expensive work, and relies on donations,… Read more »
Super site – found the contact details that I needed easily as well as other interesting and useful information – many thanks 🙂
We came across an injured baby moorhen who’s legs weren’t working this morning and thanks to your website we found SESAW in Essex who took the little guy in. They were closed when I called however as it was an emergency the answer machine said to come down anyway. A really helpful lady took it it. Many thanks for listing all the wildlife centres near us- some I was completely unaware off!
My cat got a baby bird this morning. I did my best to keep it safe and warm while trying to find a local sanctuary. I was so grateful to find a register on your website. RSPB no use at all. Thank you so much. Our bird is in expert hands now.
you failed to address the issue of – what happens if you cannot find a sanctuary for the bird & have to keep it?
i rescued an injured “racer” (now recovered) & i’m afraid to release it for reasons you have mentioned.
Hi Combo, racers aren’t wildlife so most of the rescues we list won’t have facilities for them. We are aware of some rescues who can accommodate them though and it is possible to move them via couriers to sanctuaries further away. If you’d like to drop us an email with your location, I’ll recommend some places for you.
Recently contacted help wildlife when a young starling flew into a window. Although the bird was trying to move it just couldn’t get its balance and kept falling over. Kept it in a box for several hours and then rang Birds of a Feather which is based near Rochdale. Robert answered immediately and said to bring it round for him to check on its condition. He kept the bird overnight and rang me the next day to update on its progress. It still couldn’t stand up properly but had been eating well. We arranged that I would ring him after… Read more »
Not on single place in Leeds that can help an injured bird. Shameful to say the least as we also have wild animals.
Sadly some of the rescues we used to have listed in the Leeds area have closed. Wildlife rescue is very expensive and many groups simply don’t get enough to support to carry on their work.
A wood pigeon crashed into my upstairs window badly injuring its wing. Via Google and the RSPB I found your website and the listing of Pigeon Rescue in London. The second phone number worked and I was able to get the pigeon to people who know how to treat it. A big relief. Your site is a great resource for finding wildlife rescue organisations! Thank you
This site offers clear, practical advice & its obvious that the volunteers are experienced & have integrity. I do feel totally helpless, however & not very hopeful for my casualty. The sad truth is that I don’t have the right expertise & it seems that no one will want to help my nestling. I wish there was advice about how to make them comfortable whilst waiting for the inevitable. I apologise for my pessimism 🙁
Hi, please email us at enquiries@helpwildlife.co.uk with details and your postcode and I will try to find you some help. If you can include a picture of the bird as well, that will be helpful.
There seems to be a bird stuck in the chimney at my friends house, but the fire place is enclosed. Can we call someone to get it out?
There’s information about what to do here – http://new.helpwildlife.co.uk/sick-or-injured-wildlife/chimneys/