Another otter in.....

...but not such a happy ending.

Today the RSPCA brought in another male otter. Before he arrived we had been told that he was not using his hind legs which is usually bad news. Spinal damage is the first thing that goes through our minds when we hear this.

When he was brought in I could see straight away that his back looked unnaturally arched & I had a feeling that his x-rays were going to reveal some damage there. I was right, 2 x-rays later & we could clearly see that his spine was severed. So sad, such a beautiful animal.

Of course, he had to be put to sleep & although this is never, ever an easy thing to do, at least with such a serious injury & no chance of recovery, you know that you are relieving the pain & suffering of the poor animal.

Swimming with humpback whales!

Fancy a week in the Caribbean, swimming with humpback whales & helping with research into them?

A friend of ours, Dr Ruth Searle, marine biologist & writer, is looking for volunteers prepared to pay to help with her research into these beautiful creatures in February/March 2010 in Silver Bank, off the coast of the Dominican Republic. You will collect data, take fluke ID photos, operate the hydrophone, record whale song, take GPS readings and help generally with research.

The week will be spent on board the Sun Dancer II, a 138 foot vessel carrying groups of a maximum of just 18 people (exc. crew).

Take a look at the website http://www.consciousbreathadventures.com/ to see the facilities aboard this fantastic vessel, as well as lots more information about humpbacks.

The cost of this once in a lifetime research trip will be approximately £1,900 per person, plus flights & crew tips. A lot of money I know, but Silver Bank is a truly beautiful place, you will be genuinely up close & personal with humpback whales & their calves & you will be helping with valuable research work at the same time.

If we can get a group of at least 6 people, there is a 10% discount per person.

For further information please contact me by email at caroline@vwr.org.uk

Nearing the end of a busy season

Today the last of our fox cubs were taken out to their release pen where they will stay for a week before being released into the wild. We have successfully reared & released 26 cubs this year & will have to wait until next March or April for it to start all over again.

The last cubs leaving here always seems to be a landmark for us at Vale - it marks the end of another busy spring & summer & the start of the quieter winter months when we can all take things a bit easier.

Two kestrels were also released today & the two muntjac deer which have been reared from only days old were due to go too but we ran out of time as it's been a busy day. They will be going in the next few days.

At the moment we have about a dozen baby & young grey squirrels in - not everyones favourite but we have no reds in this area (& no suitable habitat to support them) so they are no threat to them as they are in the few areas of red squirrels left in the country.

Quick Ozzy (the skunk) update - she is doing fine, putting on rather too much weight (we will have to put her on a diet soon!) & has now moved into her very plush, purpose-built apartment. She is really spoilt.
I would like to thank Gary Beers for taking these great pictures of my 2 muntjac fawns & one of our many grey squirrel youngsters.