East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service

WRAS needs a variety of volunteers to help out with everything from fundraising to taking in and caring for wildlife casualties.

1	WRAS is currently looking for
2	WRAS Rescuers and Carers - The Background
3	Hours to suit you
4	Suitability
5	Training
6	Frequency of calls
7	Equipment
8	Housing of casualties
9	Expenses
10	Back-up
11	Communication
12	Good times and bad
13	Release
14	Do you think you could help?

	WRAS is currently looking for

	Wildlife Rescuers, Wildlife Carers, Committee Members, Fundraisers, "Taxi Drivers", people to attend car-boot sales, organise coffee mornings and other similar events, those who are willing to have an aviary for the treatment and release of casualties, also those with suitable space for badger and fox release pens.

	WRAS Rescuers and Carers - The Background

	WRAS has a County Rescue Co-ordinator who co-ordinates the rescue activities of the organisation.

	Hours to suit you

	All WRAS rescuers are available at different times and work on an ad-hoc arrangement where if they are available then they will respond. Most rescuers have full-time or part-time jobs in addition to this voluntary work, and as a result can only respond at certain times of the day. Rescues vary in the length of time they will take. Rescuers quickly learn how long various calls will take. Call-outs can take as much as 3 hours - however, most will take 30 to 120 minutes.

	Suitability

	Each rescuer slowly develops personal interests in certain species or type of work. Some are more confident at dealing with birds but are unsure of handling badgers and foxes, as a result some rescuers choose only to deal with certain species. Some volunteers prefer to become "Taxi drivers". These people deal with minor casualties, those who have already been stabilised by vets or rescuers, or just need moving from one place to another - for example collecting a casualty from a vet or moving an animal or bird from one centre to another. Volunteers get involved to the level they feel most comfortable.

	Training

	All WRAS rescuers have learnt by joining-in and helping other rescuers, sort of learning on the job. Tagging along on rescues is the best way to build-up confidence. The more experienced rescuers have also spent time with vets or veterinary nurses. All new rescuers will be invited along on rescues with existing rescuers, so they can see for themselves what is involved without having to make any decisions or take responsibility for the casualty. It is the Rescue Co-ordinator's responsibility to help make decisions and point new rescuers in the right direction. Only experined rescuers take responsibility when deciding whether a casualty needs to be euthanasied, this decision is always made in conjunction with a veterinary surgeon. New rescuers should always follow the advice given by veterinary surgeons - if queries arise then the Rescue Co-ordinator should be contacted. WRAS organises meetings and discussions for rescuers to get together and talk over problems and issues as well as to meet rescuers and carers from outside the organisation to help learn specialist skills.

	Frequency of calls

	Different casualties and types of incident happen at different times of year. Oiled seabirds only occur around winter, baby birds and animals in the spring, under weight hedgehogs during the autumn and winter, road casualty badgers and foxes occur more in the spring and autumn. Calls vary from 1 a week to 21 a day - with the main busy period being mid-spring to mid-summer.

	Equipment

	WRAS will provide: medication (where and when necessary), cages on loan, reflective clothing on loan, a few blankets and towels, and other equipment if available. WRAS rescuers are expected to provide suitable clothing to wear on rescues, use their mobile phone (if they have one), provide their own transport.

	Housing of casualties

	The Rescue Co-ordinator will help rescuers decide where the most suitable centre or carer is to take each casualty. This sometimes involves travelling quite a distance to the nearest centre. For example, some bird casualties from Eastbourne might need transporting to Hastings Bird Rescue or Folly Wildlife Rescue at Crowborough. Some of WRAS's rescuers also take in some types of casualties based on the level of care and attention the casualty needs. New carers are always welcome and WRAS encourages those to liaise and work closely with others outside WRAS, like Folly Wildlife Rescue, where necessary.

	Expenses

	WRAS cannot afford to constantly pay petrol exenses, but will pay on special occasions when the rescue co-ordinator is asked in advance. All other expenses are only paid when cleared by the rescue co-ordinator in advance of the purchase - receipts MUST always be kept. Veterinary expenses are ALWAYS paid by WRAS. WRAS has accounts held at numerous veterinary centres across the county. The rescue co-ordinator will advise rescuers on which centres should be used. WRAS rescuers can authorise veterinary work up to the value of £50 before needing to check with the rescue co-ordinator.

	Back-up

	WRAS rescuers will always have telephone support from the rescue co-ordinator, and problems can normally be solved over the phone. Casualty details taken over the phone from members of the public can sometimes be misleading, causing rescuers to deal with situations they may not be used to or quite sure of how to deal with. WRAS's rescue co-ordinator will always provide back-up if available from within WRAS or from outside WRAS (like the Police, RSPCA or local veterinary centres etc) and will attend on site personally if necessary.

	Communication

	Rescuers should never feel they are on their own and should never make any decisions they are not happy about or feel comfortable in making - decisions can be passed back to more experienced rescuers or the rescue co-ordinator. WRAS's rescue co-ordinator is always on the other end of the phone. It is essential that the co-ordinator is kept informed of decisions, expenses and events to ensure the relatively smooth running of the organisation.

	Good times and bad

	WRAS has found, from past experience, that there are phases when all casualties seem to have fatal injuries and none survive, and other occasions where treating casualties appears to be a "piece of cake" and those who you thought would not survive do. All WRAS rescuers get up-set when they lose a casualty (even if they don't show it!) but sometimes it is for the best and would have prevented the animal or bird from suffering further.

	Release

	Where possible, rescuers are given the chance to undertake the release of casualties, they initially dealt with, when they are ready to be returned back into the wild. This is the best part and why we are all involved with WRAS!

Do you think you could help?

Have another read of the above information and then enter your details below. This information will be forwarded on to WRAS Rescuers and someone will be in touch within 7 to 10 days.
Unfortunately we are unable to take on volunteers under the age of 18.

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