East Sussex WRAS

23/06/2026

Please consider nominating WRAS for the Benefact Group Movement for Good Community Special Draw 2026, to enable WRAS to be in with a chance of winning £5000!

All you have to do is click the link below and complete a short form 😊

This money would hugely help us continue to provide a vital service to the wildlife in our local area

https://movementforgood.com/draws/special/community

We could receive a £5,000 donation with your help through the Movement for Good Draw.

22/06/2026

One X-ray can reveal the true extent of an injury.

This wood pigeon had a coracoid and radial fracture after being shot, with a small piece of shot lodged in its wing.

From the outside, it is not always possible to know how badly a wild animal has been injured. X-rays help our vets see fractures, foreign objects, and internal damage — giving each casualty the best chance of receiving the right treatment.

Our X-ray machine is essential to the work we do every day.

Please support our Future in Focus Appeal and help us replace this vital equipment.

Donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/futureinfocus

Help wildlife. Help the future.

20/06/2026

This is why X-rays matter.

This wood pigeon was injured by a ball bearing fired from a catapult. Injuries like this are often impossible to fully assess from the outside.

X-rays allow our vets to find hidden damage, identify lodged objects, assess fractures, and make informed decisions about treatment.

Cases like this are a stark reminder of how vital diagnostic equipment is in wildlife rescue — especially when dealing with cruelty and deliberate harm.

Please support our Future in Focus Appeal and help us replace our X-ray machine.

Donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/futureinfocus

Help wildlife. Help the future.

19/06/2026

A recent report of a swan being targeted by a group of individuals was a cause of concern for our WRAS rescuers! With the individuals apparently using a catapult to throw projectiles at a mute swan, a rescuer was immediately dispatched and was on site within 20 minutes.

The swan was found on the riverbank being monitored by concerned local people. As the swan appeared to be limping, it was safely caught and taken to East Sussex WRAS’s Casualty Centre for assessment.

Our vet, Jasmin Gregory, checked the swan over and thankfully found that the limp appeared to be an age-related issue and was unlikely to have been caused by a catapult injury. To avoid causing any further unnecessary distress, the swan was returned to the river and released.

We are extremely grateful to the members of the public who reported the incident and stayed nearby to monitor the swan.

Sadly, catapults can cause devastating injuries to wildlife. If you witness anyone actively targeting wildlife with a catapult or other weapon, please contact Sussex Police on 999 if the crime is happening at the time, or 101 if reporting after the event.

If you find an injured or distressed wild animal, please contact your nearest wildlife rescue as soon as possible.

19/06/2026

** CASUALTY CALL REQUEST**

During our peak seasons (April-Sept), our phone lines can be exceptionally busy with calls from concerned members of the public.

We politely ask that, if you are calling about a wildlife casualty, please leave a voicemail if you are unable to get through and one of our team WILL get back to you as soon as we are able.

If we continually receive repeat calls to report a casualty, this blocks-up our phone lines and means we are not able to effectively triage requests

We thank you for your continued support at this time

18/06/2026

We are in desperate need of upgrading our x-ray machine at our casualty centre.

The machine is a vital member of our team, providing our vets with the inside eyes to assess casualties and formulate a care plan to provide the best opportunity of recovery and release.

Please consider donating today at: https://wildlifeambulance.short.gy/FutureInFocus

18/06/2026

Sometimes the most serious injuries are hidden.

This hedgehog had Balloon Syndrome — a condition where air becomes trapped under the skin, causing the body to inflate. X-rays helped our vets check for internal damage and understand what may have caused the condition.

Without X-rays, our team would be left guessing. With them, we can make better decisions, faster.

Our X-ray machine is used again and again for casualties like this — from hedgehogs and foxes to birds, badgers and other wildlife.

Please help us replace this vital piece of equipment by supporting our Future in Focus Appeal.

Donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/futureinfocus

Help wildlife. Help the future.

17/06/2026

We have been exceptionally busy recently, and our phone lines have been ringing non-stop.

Please remember that East Sussex WRAS is not a huge charity and we do not have a call centre like some larger organisations. During very busy periods, this means callers may reach our answerphone when they phone us. Repeatedly ring without leaving a message will not speed up speaking to someone.

The quickest way to get a response is to leave a clear answerphone message. Someone will triage the calls and get back to you as soon as possible.

Answerphone messages will usually take priority over repeated calls, as those callers have already been waiting longer. Please make sure you clearly state:

• The nature of the incident
• The species involved
• The location
• Your name and contact number

This helps us prioritise urgent cases and respond more effectively.

If you do not hear back from us, it may be because:

• The number left does not work or was unclear
• The line was engaged when we tried to call back
• There was no answer when we returned the call
• The call was not suitable for the phone option selected
• The information you needed was already covered in the answerphone message

We are, however, only human. We do occasionally make mistakes or write numbers down incorrectly, especially when the phone lines are under heavy pressure.

If you have not heard back from us within 15 minutes and the situation is urgent, please try calling again.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and support while our small team works hard to help as many wildlife casualties as possible.

16/06/2026

FUTURE IN FOCUS - X-ray Appeal.

This image shows a fractured tibia in a fox — a serious injury which needs urgent assessment and treatment.

Without an X-ray, our vets cannot fully understand the severity of the fracture or decide the best way to treat it.

X-rays give our veterinary team the ability to see what cannot be seen from the outside. They help us assess fractures, plan treatment, reduce suffering, and give wildlife the best possible chance of recovery.

Our X-ray machine is a vital part of our casualty centre — but we urgently need to replace it.

Please support our Future in Focus Appeal and help us keep wildlife care moving forward.

Donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/futureinfocus

Help wildlife. Help the future.