Baby squirrels, birds and other young animals have started arriving in large numbers at Leatherhead’s Wildlife Aid Foundation at the start of what it calls the "orphan season".

Every spring, the Foundation (WAF) admits 2,000 - 3,000 young animals to its hospital on Randalls Road, and receives calls from across the country.

Newborn and baby animals and birds are especially vulnerable, abandoned or left by parents who have been hit by a car, killed by a cat, or displaced by people chopping trees or doing hedgework in their gardens.

Some of these stories have a happy ending, such as the fox cubs found alone in a garden shed and brought to WAF, who were taken back, kept warm with heat pads and monitored to see whether their mother would return. Nine hours later she did.

However, three baby squirrels abandoned in a tree were not so lucky. Their mother rejected them, and they will stay at the WAF hospital until they are old enough to survive in the wild.

While 70 per cent of the animals WAF sees survive, as a charity which relies on volunteers, memberships and donations, its emergency rescue service is seriously overstretched at this time of year.

Founder Simon Cowell, the star of TV show Wildlife SOS, said he worries about the fast decline in animals’ natural habitat, which puts pressure on their chance to survive, and believes better education about the natural world is vital.

WAF has recently launched an educational website on conservation and wildlife, with classroom resources, and activities and projects for young people.

"I worry that kids have lost that connection with the natural world," Mr Cowell said.

"If we can get them passionate and inspired about nature again, we can start to turn things around."

Dos and Don’ts for the "orphan season"

  • Don’t pick up young mammals such as deer, badgers and foxes, as your scent will cause their mother to reject them.
  • Don’t take animals into the hospital unless it is an absolute emergency, as the stress of being picked up and transported can be mentally and physically damaging to young animals.
  • Don’t feed urban foxes - it doesn’t do them any good.
  • Do stand back and watch for a short time if you suspect an animal has been abandoned (unless they are in immediate danger) - the parents are often nearby, waiting for you to leave.
  • Do take baby birds caught by cats to hospital immediately, as the bacteria in cats’ mouths can kill them within hours.
  • Do, if in doubt, call WAF’s 24-hour helpline for advice on 09061 800132.

For more information about the charity visit www.wildlifeaid.org.uk

For information and resources on conservation and wildlife visit www.wafeducation.org.uk

TODAY'S TOP STORIES