POISONED hedgehogs, trapped badgers, swans attacked by dogs, doves caught in netting, injured gulls – just a few of the 114 East Sussex Wildlife Ambulance Service callouts last week.
Coordinator Trevor Weeks told the Express 107 calls were to fledgling birds.
He said: 'May is only the begining of our busy season and day by day the phones are getting busier and busier.'
On Saturday and Sunday WRAS has four rescuers out almos
t constantly all day and two throughout the night.
These included hedgehogs suffering from warfarin poisoning in Uckfield, a badger suffering from territorial bite injuries in Ringmer, a swan attacked by a dog in Ditchling, a disorientated fox and an injured gull in Hastings.
Trevor explained spring and summer are hard times for wildlife as youngsters are branching out on their own and have to compete with cats and other predators.
He said the average cost of each callout is £65 which includes petrol, phone, electricity, water, food, rent, insurance, maintenance and veterinary bills.
Many volunteers put their hands in their own pockets to help fund the work.
Anyone wanting to make a donation can do so on-line at: www.wildlifeambulance.org or post a cheque or postal order payable to East Sussex WRAS to PO Box 2148, Seaford, BN25 9ED. Updates have been put on the Twitter site: www.twitter.com/eastsussexwraS.
