Species:

Pages for each species of Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians in the UK are easily accessible from a cover page for each of these groups. Information on different species is provided at different depths. Full species pages, which may print out to six sides of A4 paper, are available for all the terrestrial mammals, the bats and many of the birds. These include a detailed description and measurements, natural history including range, habitat, feeding, behaviour and reproduction, conservation. Summary pages (for cetaceans, some birds, amphibians and terrestrial reptiles) provide a briefer summary of the same topics while Link pages (for some bird species and the marine turtles) contain information on areas such as (for birds) range and habitat, feeding, eggs and chicks. Pages are expanded as appropriate for the different WILDPro modules. All information is referenced with links provided to details of the references used (see: Refs. & Gloss.).

Each species page is provided with links to appropriate organisations (see Directory: Organisations working with UK Wildlife), appropriate Individual Technique pages on captive management (Catching & Handling, Accommodation, Feeding, Hand Rearing, Release), associated documents in the WILDPro Electronic Library and important Legislation.

Directory:

Organisations working with UK Wildlife This section of the UK Wildlife: First Aid and Care module is designed to provide easy access for the user to the multitude of organisations which work with UK Wildlife. For each organisation, in addition to full contact details, an outline is given of the type of work in which the organisation is involved.

Techniques for UK Wildlife Casualty Management: 

This flowchart is designed to enable the user to follow a "decision-making process" to find the information needed. The core of the flowchart is assessment. The Assessment pages lead the user trough the process of assessing a wildlife casualty, from initial triage, through physical examination, to information on the "Common Findings and Reasons for Presentation" of wildlife casualties of different species or groups of species (e.g. the hedgehog, the badger, waders, birds of prey, reptiles) and other important diseases for the same species. The husbandry pages cover Catching and Handling, Accommodation, Feeding and  Hand Rearing of all UK Wildlife species, with each page leading from general principles through considerations for mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, to individual technique pages (120 in total) for each species or species group (e.g. Accommodation of Birds of Prey, Hand-rearing of Hedgehogs). These pages are supported by two pages on Record Keeping and Legislation which may affect those caring for wildlife casualties.

Release is the ideal aim with any casualty. As with the other pages, this page starts with general principles before moving to more specific points for different types of animals and then links to 30 Individual Technique pages considering the release of different species or species groups (e.g. the fox, small garden birds etc.) For casualties which are unsuitable release, the two possible options are permanent care and Euthanasia. Each of these topics is covered in its own page. TheLong Term Care page describes the different types of long term care facility which may be available, together with discussion of the circumstances in which an animal may appropriately be kept in such facilities. Links are provided to appropriate legislation and organisations. TheEuthanasia page discusses the circumstances in which euthanasia may be the most appropriate and humane choice for a particular casualty before describing different methods of euthanasia and finally techniques which may be suitable for different species.

This module is supported by an extensive selection of documents in the WILDProElectronic Library.

Acknowledgements

Editors: Debra C Bourne (WIN), Becki Lawson (WIN) and Suzanne I Boardman (WIN) This "UK Wildlife: First Aid and Care" WILDPro module is designed to provide guidance on the first aid and care likely to be needed by any native wild animal (mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian) in the UK, with particular reference to the London region. It is culmination of the second part of a grant from the Bridge House Estates Trust Fund, the first being the "Waterfowl: Health and Management" WILDPro module. We are particularly grateful for the hundreds of photographs provided for illustration of species, diseases and techniques; together with the numerous invaluable documents that have been made available to us in the electronic library. We would like to thank the Bat Conservation Trust, Colin Fountain, Richard Griffiths, Ray Hutchins, Mike Jordan, Paul Kennedy, Pauline Kidner, Vanessa Latford, Becki Lawson, Kaye Locke, Colin Seddon, David Tolliday, Jason Venus and Ian Walker for photographs and images. This UK Wildlife module is far larger and more comprehensive than we first envisaged and has become a huge information resource. It concentrates mainly on the techniques and assessments needed for the immediate, short and medium-term care, together with release, of individual animals; it provides natural history information on all UK species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibia. Some specialised veterinary information such as haematological and biochemistry parameters (together with detailed information on the drugs or infectious agents mentioned in the module) will be addressed in later expanded WILDPro modules. These are planned to be developed for specific species groups. The Directory of Organisations & Websites is a new section within WILDPro and we are particularly pleased to be able to include details of the organisations who have given us so much support over the year. We thank all these organisations and give special mention to the Bridge House Estates Trust Fund of the Corporation of London, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, British Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, British Trust For Ornithology, The Deer Initiative, Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland, Great North Eastern Railway, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Humane Society of the United States, National Wildlife Health Center (USGS), The Mammal Society, Marsh Christian Trust, The Royal Parks Agency, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, The Royal Veterinary College, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, and Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. The UK Wildlife module is a collation of the work of hundreds of wildlife professionals. We wish to express our thanks and respect to all of those who have worked selflessly and tirelessly for wildlife and then made their work available for others to learn from their experiences. We wish to make particular mention of the help and support we have received from James Barnett, Peter Dickinson, Mike Jordan, Paul Kennedy, Pauline Kidner, James Kirkwood, Pat Klein, Terry Marsh, Dave Risley, Penny Rudd, Steve Powell, Tim Thomas, Andrew Wakeham-Dawson, Bob Wingate and Paul Yoxon. Most of all, thanks are due to those most tolerant and encouraging individuals who provide us with both technical and moral support, in equal quantities: we particularly wish to thank Iain Boardman, Josh Dein, Aidan Dixon, Richenda Haizelden, Jon Hanreck, Alex Hunte, Gordon McLeod, Alastair Smyth and Bob Sowton.

This module is dedicated to the memory of Dr Martin Bourne in the knowledge that he believed in conservation and the power of information and without hesitation supported WIN in our efforts to meet the needs of the international zoo and wildlife communities. "UK Wildlife: First Aid and Care" has been sponsored by the Corporation of London's Bridge House Estates Trust Fund