ARK Work

As a volunteer wildlife responder for the USPCA emergency callouts are actioned to any animals that are injured and in need of rescue. Reported wildlife are rescued and transported to Veterinary outlets within the Peninsula. Animals will be assessed and treated accordingly: in the event of severe injury an animal that is deemed to be both suffering and untreatable will be euthanised. Injured animals that can be healed or rehabilitated will be cared for on site by ARK, or transferred to more suitable outlets, such as the USPCA in accordance to the needs of the individual animal.

Chog ~ Hedgehog

Hedgehogs

We rescue and rehabilitate any ill or injured Hedgehogs such as Chog.

Poor little Chog was reported to us by a concerned homeowner in Comber.

The caller had observed this Hedgehog to be stuck in his garden for several days so the animal was dehydrated and hungry. Whilst in our care Chog was given treatment for the Tick infestation that was observed on his body, and fed and cared for until given the all clear from Claire Ferris Vets in Millisle. Following this the little Hedgehog was then released back to the Comber area.

Little Hedgie chap Chog

Wild Birds

We collect or capture any wild birds that are reported to be injured.

Birds like Rosie the Ring~Necked Dove, who was collected in a life threatening condition. A homeowner had called us after observing this tiny bird being attacked in his garden. A Hawk was first to attack her, but fortunately she was dropped from this birds beak. Next, two Magpies sought to start an attack! The homeowner then stepped in and intervened as he witnessed the Hawk trying to return and attack again! This kind gentleman based in Bangor, gathered her up and placed her into a cardboard box. He left this in his garage and called us out.

When she was collected, her back was stripped of feathers and her flesh was scraped and gouged by the attackers clawed feet and beaks. She also had a nasty cut to the side of her head. Observed to be in a very poorly state, we thought that this poor little bird would not survive her injuries: or indeed die from shock following such a trauma. This wonderful little warrior has surprised us all. At present, Rosie is currently enjoying listening to Classic FM on her shiny new red radio. Her feathers have regrown on her back and we await the neck cut and missing plumes of feathers to heal over on her neck. Rosie will then be released.

Rosie the Ring~Necked Dove

Fledgling Gull ~ Grohl

Seabirds

Often we will receive notification of injured seabirds such as Gulls or Gannets.

Fledgling birds can take a time to learn how to fly and in some instances parent birds will not be present. We take fledging Gulls and care for them until they can be released and fend for themselves. Young ones such as Grohl and Gulliver are kindly called in by concerned members of the public. Both of these young Gulls were gathered in Portavogie, a fishing village along the Ards Penninsula.

A homeowner in this village had observed both of these birds to be too young to fly and had discovered them in her garden with no parent birds nearby. Grohl was just hungry, but Gulliver had sustained some form of injury to one of his knees and was limping. After a Vet check up and an painkiller injection from Jubilee Vets in Newtownards, he was cared for and healed. Following a few weeks of care, both of these young birds were transferred to the USPCA to be prepped for release into the wild.

Fledgling Gull ~ Gulliver

Rescue & Release

The fishing decoy displayed in the image was wrapped around the right wing and foot of a young Swan causing him to be anchored by the brick and become further entangled within the rope. Volunteers worked diligently to catch the distressed animal and remove the objects of his torment.

* Further discarded items were removed as these were dangerous to wildlife *

ARK Work

Hedgehogs

Wild Birds

Seabirds

The fishing decoy displayed in the image was wrapped around the right wing and foot of a young Swan causing him to be anchored by the brick and become further entangled within the rope. Volunteers worked diligently to catch the distressed animal and remove the objects of his torment.

Advanced settings