Helping injured wildlife in Germany

[emkay 10,319]

I wasn’t sure in which thread to add this so thought maybe a new one might help others trying to help injured wildlife. 

 

During our time in Germany, we’ve often saved wild injured birds, bats and small mammals. It’s always very difficult to find veterinary help for wild animals. Most vets, Tierschutz, NABU etc say they can’t/are not authorised to help wildlife. However, there are many individuals and small charities that can help. And, a few vets. These are not too easy to find when a situation urgently arises.

 

Today, my elderly neighbour phoned me to ask if I can help an injured wood pigeon that was in her garden. Seemingly with a broken wing. Still in my nightwear plus coat and boots , I managed to gently corner the pigeon, lay a light cloth over it and then placed it into a newspaper lined cat carrier.
 

I’ve always been advised that injured birds should be immediately placed into a box not too much bigger than the bird, or similar with air holes. Then kept in a quiet dark room to reduce initial stress. Shallow water dishes can be added a little later. Suitable food too. This alone has helped exhausted racing pigeons we’ve found. A few hours later, they are fit again to fly. Sometimes an overnight quiet time is recommended if there’s no visible injury. Baby bird rescue is often ill advised as parent birds can usually care for their offspring….unless, there’s an obvious injury or threat. 
 

Today, a few bird rescue places said that an injured bird must be treated by a vet (most don’t treat wildlife). If a wing is broken, the bird must be euthanised by a vet and can’t be done by some/most bird rescue charities. Some law states that injured wildlife must be rehabilitated and be returned to their natural habitat. For birds, a minor healed leg injury might be survivable in the wild. Not being able to fly, no. 

 

I took the wood pigeon to a vet that does treat wildlife. Thankfully, not too far away.  Despite a full waiting room, my rescue bird was seen to instantly and X-rayed.  No breakage anywhere. It will stay overnight at the vet and examined by a wild bird expert later today.  And given pain relief etc. Hopefully if all goes well tonight and tomorrow we can collect the bird and take it to a wild bird sanctuary.

 

For anyone who cares about and could help injured wildlife, it’s really useful to find as many contacts as possible in advance. Local Facebook/Instagram groups can help a lot. Vets and Tierschutz can often make recommendations.

 

If anyone can add any other suggestions, that would be great. Maybe different Bundesländer have other guidelines?

 

Every creature deserves its place on Earth. Sometimes us human can help 😊

 

[RedMidge 6,638]

Brilliant post- really good advice.

[john g. 37,776]

Heart-felt, moving , informative and the best Friday thread ever!👍👍

[Dembo 525]

I witnessed someone in Berlin calling the Feuerwehr to deal with an injured pigeon she'd found. They came with a fire engine and collected it too; not sure what they did with it, perhaps they had pigeon for dinner.

 

Is that really something they do? It would never occur to me.

[Jonny 1,325]

3 hours ago, emkay said:

Every creature deserves its place on Earth. 

 

Agreed.  That's why I stopped eating creatures a few years ago. 

[john g. 37,776]

1 hour ago, Dembo said:

I witnessed someone in Berlin calling the Feuerwehr to deal with an injured pigeon she'd found. They came with a fire engine and collected it too; not sure what they did with it, perhaps they had pigeon for dinner.

 

Is that really something they do? It would never occur to me.

Germany is really civilised in that regard!! ❤️ to Germany. 

[emkay 10,319]

1 hour ago, Dembo said:

I witnessed someone in Berlin calling the Feuerwehr to deal with an injured pigeon she'd found. They came with a fire engine and collected it too; not sure what they did with it, perhaps they had pigeon for dinner.

 

Is that really something they do? It would never occur to me.

A few calls I made to wildlife rescues today had answer machine messages that suggested calling police, fire brigade etc. 

[emkay 10,319]

13 minutes ago, Jonny said:

Agreed.  That's why I stopped eating creatures a few years ago. 

Me too.

[john g. 37,776]

25 minutes ago, emkay said:

A few calls I made to wildlife rescues today had answer machine messages that suggested calling police, fire brigade etc. 

With a few honourable  exceptions, that would never happen in Greece, a land I love in many ways and ten years there. But in that regard- jeez.😰

 

[bramble 9,643]

A useful webpage with links and telephone numbers of wildlife stations sorted by Postleitzahl (postal code):

Wildtierschutz Deutschland