Which animals does Wildlife Aid rescue and what happens to them after admission?

Updated

Wildlife Aid Foundation rescues, treats, rehabilitates and releases British wildlife of all kinds — from tiny orphaned hedgehogs to birds of prey — and every animal brought in goes through triage and admission by trained volunteers at its wildlife hospital in Leatherhead, followed by veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and, where possible, release back to its natural habitat. The charity says it handles over 20,000 wildlife-related incidents each year, with teams working 365 days a year.

Which animals Wildlife Aid takes in

The charity describes its patients as "every kind of British wildlife." Its own examples give the range:

  • Small mammals — orphaned hedgehogs are the example the charity leads with.
  • Birds of prey — described as "magnificent birds of prey."
  • Gulls and other birds — the charity's first-ever patient was a gull with a wounded wing, and birds remain part of the caseload.
  • Trapped or injured animals in distress — the rescue team may be called out to help these.

The site does not publish a complete species list or explicit exclusions, so if you are unsure whether a particular animal is within scope, contact the charity before acting.

How an animal reaches the hospital

There are two main routes, according to the charity:

  1. Rescue call-out — the team may be called out to help a trapped or injured animal in distress.
  2. Public drop-off — caring members of the public may bring wounded or orphaned animals directly to the wildlife hospital in Leatherhead.

What happens after admission

The page evidence sets out the start of the process clearly and the rest of the pathway in general terms:

Stage What happens
Triage and admission A team of trained volunteers triages and admits the animal at the Leatherhead hospital.
Veterinary treatment Specialist vets treat the animal; the charity describes its team as volunteers and specialist vets.
Rehabilitation Animals are rehabilitated at the centre as part of the charity's rescue, rehabilitation and release work.
Release Patients are released back to their natural habitat, "giving them a second chance at life."

The charity frames all of this as front-line care for individual animals that "would have no chance in the wild" without its teams and donors.

What this means if you have found an animal

  • Act on the route that fits the situation. If an animal is trapped or injured and in distress, the charity's rescue line is the relevant path; if you can safely transport a wounded or orphaned animal, the Leatherhead hospital accepts public drop-offs.
  • Expect triage first. Admission is not automatic — trained volunteers assess the animal on arrival, so the care it receives depends on that assessment.
  • Release is the goal, not a guarantee. The charity's stated aim is return to the wild; the page does not promise release for every patient.

The site also runs a Winter Survival Fund appeal, noting that winter brings longer nights, falling temperatures and disappearing food, and that donations help provide warmth, food, medicine, veterinary treatment, rescue and rehabilitation during those months.