2 weeks Ago
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) handled over 120 new wildlife casualty incidents over the Easter bank holiday weekend. The team, made up of staff and volunteers, also cared for around 115 animals already in their care. The incidents began on Good Friday with 28 new calls, including a collapsed badger found on a disused railway line in Malling, Lewes.
Members of the public helped rescuer Brian Downing locate the badger, but sadly, it died overnight at the WRAS Casualty Centre. Two rescued robins rest safely after being brought into WRAS care (Image: East Sussex WRAS) Saturday saw 24 more incidents, including injured pigeons in Haywards Heath, a collapsed badger in Ashburnham, a crow with a damaged leg in Eastbourne, and several young birds that had fallen from their nests too early. Easter Sunday was particularly busy, with 50 incidents reported.
Among them were 12 ducklings trapped in a drain near a cycle path west of Wilmington, which three rescuers helped free. The ducklings were taken into care as their mother was missing. Fox cub rescued from netting in Brighton (Image: East Sussex WRAS) At the same time, another team of rescuers attended to 10 ducklings in a Pevensey garden, also without a nest or mother.
On Easter Monday, the team responded to over 20 calls. These included a collapsed badger at Reedens Meadows in Newick and two hedgehogs found out in the daytime in Eastbourne, all of which needed rescuing. WRAS's rescue coordinators handle incoming calls, providing advice when a rescue isn't necessary.
Over the weekend, they received several calls from outside their area, including reports of a deer in Frant, a pigeon in East Grinstead, a badger in Surrey, and a duckling in Hickstead. All were given guidance or referred to more local services. The WRAS team also received help from the Brighton & Hove Wildlife Advice & Rescue Service, who handled several calls in the Brighton area.
Notably, they rescued a fox cub tangled in netting in Brighton, which was later brought to the WRAS Casualty Centre after a veterinary check. There was also a report from Sussex Police about a pigeon trapped between a window and a wooden board at a property on Sillwood Road, Brighton. Among the more unusual calls were reports of an ostrich or rhea injured on the road in Ashdown Forest, a calf making noises, and a sheep stuck in mud at Hamsey.
All were directed to suitable help. Over the four-day weekend, WRAS ambulances covered more than 1,000 miles. In 2025, WRAS has rescued or admitted over 1,000 casualties so far.
The charity faces its busiest months in May, June, and July, handling up to 68 casualties per day. In June last year, WRAS dealt with 1,100 casualties. To manage the workload, the charity has hired extra temporary staff for this summer.
Despite this, the charity continues to face challenges with space and resources due to the high demand for its services. WRAS is asking the community to support the charity and its work in helping sick, injured, orphaned, and trapped wildlife..
