:: FOUND A SEABIRD
Penguins, Gannets, Terns, Cormorants, Seagulls, Oystercatchers, Albatrosses, Petrels and Pelicans
What to do when you have found an injured/sick/oiled seabird:- Contact our Seabird Rescue Centre +27(0)21 557 6155 URGENTLY or email them.
- If you are unable to handle the seabird, SANCCOB will send out a unit to collect the bird.
- If you approach any seabird, please approach with care. Some seabirds such as Cape Gannets and African Penguins have sharp beaks.
- Have with you a towel, or blanket and wear protection over your hands and eyes. Use a towel/blanket to throw over the bird to catch it, ensuring that the bird is able to breathe.
- If you have a large box ensure that there are holes for air before you place the injured/sick marine bird.
SANCCOB is a 24-hour Seabird Rescue Centre and will respond to all seabirds in distress, including African Penguins, Cape Gannets, Terns, Cormorants, Seagulls, Oystercatchers, Albatrosses, Petrels, Pelicans and other marine birds.
SANCCOB works with a network of stabilizing units and fellow rehabilitators throughout Southern Africa. Dependant on the nature of the injury and the location of the seabird SANCCOB will immediately dispatch one of our own Rescue Units, offer stabilisation advice or put the caller in contact with the organisation in closest proximity to the injured seabird.
SANCCOB staff members will answer calls 24 hours a day from members of the public to fellow animal organisations. Information is gathered on the type of seabird, the location, where it’s been found and the injury or reason for stranding.
:: FOUND AN OWL
Should you find an owl that you suspect might be injured, please call the Owl Rescue Centre - Brendan on 082 719 5463 (24/7 Emergency line) or email.
Please remember that birds easily die from shock; be careful not to handle an owl or any other wild bird unnecessarily. Cover the owl with a towel to calm it and place it in a box until a trained rehabilitator or professional can assist.
:: FOUND A BAT
Finding a bat out in the open on the ground or on a wall in daylight is unusual and the bat is probably in trouble.
Contact the Bat Interest Group of Kwazulu Natal.
Is it a Pup?
Many
people assume a small animal must be young but this is not necessarily
the
case. Baby bats are born pink and without fur, gradually fur grows
along the back and eventually down the chest and belly. A
baby will also not have fully developed teeth. If you think that the bat you have found is a baby then the best thing for it is to
first of all try to get it back to its mother.
Is it Injured or Dehydrated?
Most
bats found grounded are dehydrated and cannot
swallow or chew properly. To test for dehydration gently pinch a fold
of skin up over the shoulder blades - a healthy animal’s skin
will drop back again immediately.
If the bat is dehydrated or has obvious injuries then put it in a soft cloth
and put it in a box somewhere quiet and call the BATLINE 082 445 0585.
Release the Bat
If the bat has no obvious injuries and is not dehydrated then keep it in a soft cloth in a box during the day and try to release it that evening. Place a little water in a shallow jar lid in the box so the bat can drink.
If the bat has no obvious injuries and is not dehydrated then keep it in a soft cloth in a box during the day and try to release it that evening. Place a little water in a shallow jar lid in the box so the bat can drink.
To
release a bat which can survive on its own then do so as soon as
possible
after dusk and near to the place you found it. Place the bat on a
ledge as high as possible to allow it to drop before starting
to fly. It may need to sit for up to 30 minutes to warm up and examine
its environment before starting to fly. Don't release a torpid
bat: if it doesn’t warm naturally (most bats will warm themselves in
the late afternoon) then place it on a hot water bottle or heating
pad for an hour before releasing.
(Torpid - listless, sluggish, mentally or physically inactive; lethargic)
If the bat will not fly after 30 minutes, or if it tries to take off but can not fly then put
it back in the box and call the BATLINE 082 445 0585
Handling Bats
It must be remembered that bats are scare, wild animals. As with any other wild animal, they may bite in self-defence if handled and therefore must not be handled with bare hands.
As a rule, avoid handling bats altogether as it is stressful for them. A bat should never be handled, if it is necessary to remove it from within a house or out of harms way, NEVER stretch out a bats' wings or hold it up by the wingtips. This is very distressing for the bat and can result in broken bones.
To handle a bat use a soft cloth or thich floves, allow it to grasp the cloth with its feet as this reassures it, and let the head stick out of the cloth so that it can breathe comfortably.
Bat Flying in the Room
On summer nights it is not unusual for bats to chase insects into houses through open doors and windows. If this happens:
Chicken Rescue and Rehabilitation have a fantastic article on what to do when you rescue a hen:
Preparation for Rescue and Rehab – what you will need
Read more >>It must be remembered that bats are scare, wild animals. As with any other wild animal, they may bite in self-defence if handled and therefore must not be handled with bare hands.
As a rule, avoid handling bats altogether as it is stressful for them. A bat should never be handled, if it is necessary to remove it from within a house or out of harms way, NEVER stretch out a bats' wings or hold it up by the wingtips. This is very distressing for the bat and can result in broken bones.
To handle a bat use a soft cloth or thich floves, allow it to grasp the cloth with its feet as this reassures it, and let the head stick out of the cloth so that it can breathe comfortably.
Bat Flying in the Room
On summer nights it is not unusual for bats to chase insects into houses through open doors and windows. If this happens:
- Turn off any ceiling fans
- Turn off the lights
- Open all outside doors and windows to let the bat escape
:: FOUND A CHICKEN
Chicken Rescue and Rehabilitation have a fantastic article on what to do when you rescue a hen:
Preparation for Rescue and Rehab – what you will need
- 2 cardboard boxes – no smaller than 40 cm high, wide, deep, & no bigger than 65cm. Avoid any boxes that have been used to store chemicals or household soaps, detergents etc
- A few clean towels (I also like using towelling nappies)
- Newspaper
- A small bowl/ Tupperware & a bottle of water
- A quiet place indoors where your hen can rest undisturbed by household noise
- Layers mash
- 2 bowls – one for water, & one for layers mash shallow, non- tip, deep enough to immerse the full length of her beak but not deep enough that he has to strain or stretch her neck to access the water of food
- If you can get hold a natural product such as ‘rescue remedy’ – take ½ a tab for her with you. This will minimise the shock and anxiety of the transportation. You can give her half a tab per day for a few days.
- Your other cardboard box with a folded towel in the bottom.
- If you are travelling back home more than ½ hour – take some water for her, & try to get her to drink a little before going home. Gently dip her beak in & out of the water, to show her what it is. Gently put the towel over her back, making sure the wings are in place on the body, & hold her against you. She will be sore and bruised, so handle her gently.
- Place her in the box in the car without the additional towel wrapped around her.
- Close the box for the journey home, and keep out of sun. This will be less stressful for your hen, and safer for driving.