🪰 FLYSTRIKE IN WILDLIFE

What is flystrike?

Flystrike (myiasis) occurs when flies lay eggs on an animal. These eggs can hatch into maggots, which feed on damaged tissue and can rapidly cause serious injury.

Flystrike is an emergency.

It can become life-threatening surprisingly quickly, particularly in small or weakened animals such as hedgehogs, rabbits and young wildlife.

🐾 What animals can get flystrike?

Flystrike can affect many species, including:

• 🦔 Hedgehogs

• 🐇 Wild rabbits

• 🐭 Small mammals

• 🐦 Birds

• 🐿️ Squirrels

• 🦆 Waterfowl and other wildlife

Animals that are injured, sick, weak, unable to move normally or have soiled/wet fur or feathers can be particularly vulnerable.

🔎 WHAT DOES FLYSTRIKE LOOK LIKE?

You may notice:

• Maggots on or around the animal

• Small white/yellowish eggs attached to fur, feathers or skin

• Flies repeatedly gathering around the animal

• A wound or area of damaged skin

• Wet, dirty or heavily soiled fur

• An unpleasant smell

• Skin that appears red, damaged or discoloured

• An animal that is unusually quiet, weak or unresponsive

You may not always see maggots immediately.

Eggs can be small and easily missed, and maggots may be hidden within fur, feathers, wounds or skin folds.

🚨 IF YOU FIND AN ANIMAL WITH FLYSTRIKE

ACT QUICKLY.

Contact a wildlife rescue centre or veterinary practice as soon as possible.

While waiting for advice:

1. 🧤 Handle as little as possible

Place the animal somewhere:

• Quiet

• Secure

• Warm

• Dark or dimly lit

Keep children and pets away.

2. 📦 Use a secure box

A cardboard box lined with a clean towel or newspaper is usually suitable for short-term containment.

Make sure there is adequate ventilation.

3. 🪰 Keep flies away

Move the animal indoors and away from further fly activity.

Do not spray household insecticide, fly spray or other chemicals onto the animal.

4. 📞 Contact a rescue or vet

Tell them:

• What species you have found

• Where you found it

• Whether you can see maggots or eggs

• Whether there are visible wounds

• Whether the animal is alert and moving

• Whether it has been caught by a cat or dog

• When you found it

Photographs can also be useful when requesting advice.

❌ PLEASE DON’T

Do not:

• ❌ Try to treat flystrike with household insecticides

• ❌ Apply creams, oils or other home remedies

• ❌ Pour disinfectant, alcohol or other chemicals onto the animal

• ❌ Attempt to dig maggots out of deep wounds

• ❌ Force-feed an animal that is weak or collapsed

• ❌ Give medication without veterinary/rescue instruction

• ❌ Delay contacting a rescue because the animal “only has a few maggots”

Flystrike can be much more extensive than it initially appears.

🩺 WHY IS FLYSTRIKE SO SERIOUS?

Maggots can cause significant tissue damage and an affected animal may deteriorate rapidly.

An animal with flystrike may also be:

• Dehydrated

• Hypothermic

• Exhausted

• Anaemic

• In pain

• Suffering from an underlying illness or injury

The flystrike may be a symptom of another problem rather than the only problem.

For example, an injured or debilitated animal may have been unable to groom itself properly, making it vulnerable to flies.

🦔 PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR HEDGEHOGS

Hedgehogs can be particularly difficult to assess because maggots and eggs can become hidden within:

• Fur

• Spines

• Wounds

• Around the face

• Around the anus

• Around the genital area

If you find a hedgehog with visible maggots, do not assume that removing the obvious maggots has solved the problem.

The animal should be assessed by an appropriately experienced wildlife rehabilitator or veterinary professional.

🐇 WHAT ABOUT RABBITS?

Wild rabbits can also develop severe flystrike, particularly when they are:

• Injured

• Weak

• Unable to move normally

• Suffering from diarrhoea or soiling

• Carrying an untreated wound

If you find a wild rabbit with maggots, seek professional help urgently.

⏱️ HOW QUICKLY SHOULD I ACT?

As soon as possible.

Flystrike can progress rapidly, and the animal may require professional assessment and treatment even if it initially appears relatively bright.

If the animal is:

• Collapsed

• Very weak

• Struggling to breathe

• Bleeding heavily

• Unable to stand

• Covered in large numbers of maggots

• Suffering from extensive wounds

treat this as an emergency and contact a veterinary practice or wildlife rescue immediately.

🐾 PREVENTING FLYSTRIKE

For wildlife already in care, good husbandry is extremely important.

For members of the public, prevention includes:

• Checking wildlife regularly if you are providing temporary assistance.

• Keeping feeding areas clean.

• Removing spoiled food.

• Providing clean water.

• Checking hedgehogs for injuries or soiling.

• Keeping garden netting and other hazards under control.

• Contacting a rescue promptly if an animal appears sick, injured or unable to groom itself.

📞 NEED HELP?

If you have found wildlife that you believe has flystrike, please contact CapesWildlifeRescue as soon as possible.

📱 Call

07553201825

💬 WhatsApp

07482390033

📧 Email

capeswildliferescue@gmail.com

When contacting us, please tell us what animal you have found, where you found it, what you have observed and whether you can see maggots or eggs.

If possible, send a clear photograph.

🐾 Remember:

Flystrike is an emergency. Don’t wait and see if it improves.

Keep the animal safe, quiet and away from flies, and seek professional advice promptly.