mammalian wildlife Flashcards
same as rodents
define ‘wildlife rehabilitation’
treatment and temp care of injured, diseased, displaced indigenous animals,
and/with the intention of subsequent release of healthy animals to appt habitats in the wild
arguments AGAINST wildlife rehab. (3)
- death is part of nature (survival of fittest)
- wrong for humans to interfere
- only focuses on welfare of indiv animal, doesn’t consider wider ecosystem/on perspective of population level
arguments FOR wildlife rehab. (3)
- humans play large role in harming welfare and health of wild animals e.g. pollution/hab. loss/injury
- individuals are important when supporting endangered/’vulnerable’ wildlife
- maintaining food chain is crucial for ecosystem balance
HANDLING - hedgehogs
- easy to catch, ball up when scared
- to uncurl: firmly stroke spines from neck-rump - or - hold with head facing down just above table
HANDLING - squirrels
- will often freeze and hold breathe OR aggressive e.g. biting
- catch using nets/wire cones/squeeze cage for cats
- bite through gauntlet leather, metal gloves restrict grip too much
HANDLING - foxes and badgers
- aggressive when try to escape
- catch via net/box
- restrain using quick release dog catcher (keep physical restrain to min. - sedation better to reduce stress and risk e.g. injury)
- scruff, use muzzles
- full PPE (?)
- gauntlets not useful (+ metal ones restrict grip)
HANDLING - deer
- if recumbent approach with caution - likely to attempt escape
- cover eyes
- cargo nets/blankets to restrain body
- care with horn/antlers
- seek specialist advice
the aim of triage (in terms of mammalian wildlife)
who can do this?
differentiate between wildlife that have good chance of survival and eventual release,
and those requiring immediate euthanasia
both vets and nurses
3 questions to ask yourself when triaging mammalian wildlife
1 good chance of success? (surv and eventual release)
2 how long will recovery take?
3 do we have appt facilities/money?
remember may req specialist treatment, and not paid for by a client
mammalian wildlife in practice - the 4 case outcomes
treatment and immediate/next day release
treatment and rehab. period before release
euth. (immediate/after diagnostics)
death DESPITE treatment
in practice - captive housing set ups include…
- quiet/warm/secure/no predators
- towels/newspaper/hay/straw (- substrate?)
- hides/shelters
- fresh drinking water always avail
- hygiene: daily clean AND disinfect (F10??)
- barrier nursing (precautions/control to prevent disease from animal to human AND VICE VERSA)
- appt captive diet
rehabilitation set ups include…
(hint - what’s different from practice set ups?)
SAME AS PRACTICE SET UPS, PLUS:
- CCTV monitoring
- feeding methods that avoid human interaction
- separate areas for diff species
- inside AND outside housing
- secure PADDOCKS for larger species
captive diets - carnivores/omnivores (3)
***(when you’re looking back over - add e.g. species for each??)
road killed wildlife
earthworms
BOUGHT in chicks/mice
(“critical care food” = good TEMPORARY alternative)
captive diets - insectivores (3)
earth worms
maggots
mealworms
(“critical care food” = good TEMPORARY alternative)
captive diets - herbivores (3)
weeds
BOUGHT in salad/veg
seeds/grain
(“critical care food” = good TEMPORARY alternative)
captivity caused diseases - give 2
- endoparasites
- capture myopathy
captivity caused diseases - endoparasites
EXPLAIN
- all wild animals naturally have some parasite burden - in balance, NOT causing clinical disease
- ill/stressed e.g. brought into captivity = worm burden unbalanced = clinically unwell
so – all wild animals brought into cap. = routinely tested/treated for worms/parasites
captivity caused diseases - capture myopathy
EXPLAIN
aka ‘capture shock’
- when wild deer manually restrained
esp after chase/being herded - natural mechanism to hasten death/red. pain in prey species when caught by predator
pre-release assessment:
animal should be able to… (if applicable to species) - 7
- avoid predators/danger (incl humans)
- hunt/forage food
- find/defend territory
- adapt to weather conditions
- reproduce
- hibernate (e.g. weight may affect - e.g. hedgehogs)
- migrate
pre-release considerations (that are not direct observation/analysis of animal) - 3
- LEGALITIES for non-native wildlife - e.g. wildlife and countryside act 1981 = schedule 9 animals (e.g. grey squirrel) cannot be re-released once in captivity
- LOCATION - safe - hunting? resources?
- staged vs hard release
pre-release considerations - LEGALITIES
a) which act would you be referring to?
b) explain which parts of this act may affect your decision to/to not release the animal.
c) give an exception to this ruling - what are the conditions?
a) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
b) species listed in Schedule 9 considered ‘non-native’
= legally not released OR ALLOWED TO ESCAPE
c) certain Schedule 9 animals may be re-released after brief rehab. period under a general licence (Sec 16)
pre-release considerations - LEGALITIES
give 2 examples of species that are not allowed to be re-released/allowed to escape
grey squirrel
muntjac deer
hedgehog behaviour
- nocturnal
- hibernate jan-march (UK) sometimes earlier
- activity during day = ill health/red. ability to find food at night (/TSTH?)
- autumn juveniles/’too small to hibernate’ (TSTH) - 450g and above = able to successfully hibernate (600g from captivity??)
- omnivores
- warmer winters = wake up when food is at lowest (not ideal)
hedgehogs - amputees
arguments AGAINST
- forelimb = unable to dig for food as well
- hindlimb = unable to scratch/clean themselves as well -> flea/tick infestations
- increased weight on contralateral (other side) limb -> pain/arthritis
- unable to swim/climb well = unable to escape predators
hedgehogs - amputees
arguments FOR
evidence that
- recover well from initial surgery
- cope well in captivity/walled off gardens
