What Happens After Admission?
From rescue to rehabilitation — every animal matters.
Handing over a wild animal can be an emotional experience, particularly when you have found it injured, vulnerable or in distress. At CapesWildlifeRescue, we understand how much it can mean to know that an animal is receiving appropriate care.
Once an animal has been formally admitted, it becomes our responsibility. Our team works to assess its needs, provide appropriate treatment and supportive care, and determine the best possible outcome for its welfare.
One of our greatest strengths is having an on-site veterinary team, comprising a veterinary surgeon and a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). This allows us to bring veterinary knowledge and practical nursing expertise together to support the wildlife in our care.
Every animal is an individual, and its journey through rehabilitation will depend on its species, condition and individual needs.
1. Admission and Initial Assessment
Following handover, the animal is safely transferred into our care and the relevant admission information is recorded.
Information provided by the finder is particularly valuable. Knowing where an animal was found, how it was discovered and whether it has received any food, medication or treatment can help inform our assessment.
The team will establish the animal's immediate needs and identify any concerns requiring urgent attention.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include assessing:
General condition, alertness and responsiveness.
Breathing and other relevant clinical observations.
Visible injuries, wounds or signs of illness.
Body condition, hydration and nutritional status.
Mobility and ability to carry out normal behaviours.
Environmental, housing and supportive care requirements.
Not every animal requires the same investigations or level of intervention. Our approach is tailored to the individual patient.
2. Our On-Site Veterinary Team
Veterinary expertise, right here at the rescue.
We are proud to have veterinary expertise available on site through our veterinary surgeon and Registered Veterinary Nurse.
Wildlife medicine and rehabilitation can be complex. Injuries are not always immediately apparent, signs of illness can be subtle, and some animals require careful stabilisation before further assessment or treatment can take place.
Having veterinary and nursing expertise working alongside our wildlife care team helps us make informed decisions about clinical needs, treatment options and ongoing welfare.
Our Veterinary Surgeon — Monica MRCVS
Our veterinary surgeon provides professional veterinary expertise to support clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and welfare decisions where required. Veterinary input helps us evaluate an animal's condition, consider appropriate treatment options and assess its prognosis.
Our Registered Veterinary Nurse — Josh RVN
Our Registered Veterinary Nurse contributes veterinary nursing knowledge and practical patient care, including monitoring, supportive care, treatment delivery within professional responsibilities, and assessment of an animal's progress.
Veterinary nursing plays an important role in recognising changes in a patient's condition, maintaining appropriate care routines and supporting recovery throughout rehabilitation.
Working together for wildlife
Our veterinary surgeon and Registered Veterinary Nurse bring complementary skills to the care of our patients. By combining veterinary assessment with ongoing nursing care and wildlife rehabilitation, we aim to provide a coordinated, welfare-led approach to each animal's needs.
The level of veterinary involvement varies according to the individual case. Having an on-site veterinary team does not mean every animal requires the same examination or treatment, but it gives us valuable expertise to draw upon when making care decisions.
3. Treatment and Supportive Care
Following assessment, an individual care plan may be developed to address the animal's needs.
Depending on its condition, this may involve:
Wound assessment and management.
Appropriate medication prescribed or authorised by a veterinary surgeon where indicated.
Fluid therapy or other supportive treatment where required.
Nutritional support and species-appropriate feeding.
Management of pain, discomfort or other clinical concerns.
Diagnostic investigations or additional veterinary assessment.
Referral for specialist care where necessary.
Some animals may need intensive support initially, while others may primarily require rest, suitable accommodation and careful monitoring.
Our priority is to provide care that is appropriate to the animal's condition, taking into account the potential benefits of treatment, associated risks and overall welfare.
4. A Safe and Suitable Environment
Recovery involves much more than treating an injury or illness.
Animals are housed according to their species, condition and individual requirements. We aim to provide appropriate shelter, space, temperature, nesting or hiding opportunities and access to suitable food and water where indicated.
Where necessary, animals may be accommodated separately for isolation, recovery or biosecurity reasons.
We also take steps to minimise unnecessary handling, noise and human contact. Wild animals can become highly stressed in unfamiliar environments, and reducing disturbance is an important part of responsible rehabilitation.
Our aim is to support recovery while preserving natural behaviours and avoiding unnecessary habituation to people.
5. Ongoing Monitoring and Nursing Care
An animal's condition can change throughout its stay, so ongoing observation is an essential part of rehabilitation.
Our team monitors patients according to their individual needs, which may include:
Appetite and food intake.
Body weight and body condition.
Hydration and relevant clinical observations.
Mobility, activity and behaviour.
Wound healing and response to treatment.
Medication requirements and response to care.
General progress and any new concerns.
Observations help us recognise improvements, identify deterioration and determine when a care plan may need to change.
Our Registered Veterinary Nurse's clinical nursing knowledge is an important part of this process, working alongside the veterinary surgeon and wider wildlife care team as appropriate.
6. Rehabilitation and Recovery
Once an animal is sufficiently stable, the focus may gradually shift towards rehabilitation.
The aim is not simply for an animal to recover from an injury, but to regain the abilities it needs to survive independently.
Depending on the species and individual case, rehabilitation may involve rebuilding strength and mobility, developing flight or other natural movement, encouraging independent feeding, or restoring appropriate behaviour.
Progression is based on the animal's condition and readiness rather than a fixed timetable.
Some animals recover relatively quickly, while others need a longer period of care. In some cases, additional veterinary assessment or specialist input may be required before rehabilitation can progress.
7. Preparing for Release
For wildlife suitable for release, returning to the wild is generally our ultimate goal.
Before release, we consider whether the animal has recovered sufficiently and can meet the demands of independent life.
Factors may include:
Appropriate physical condition and mobility.
Recovery from relevant injuries or illness.
Ability to feed independently where required.
Species-specific behaviours and survival skills.
Suitability of the release location and environmental conditions.
Any additional clinical or welfare considerations.
Release decisions are made according to the individual animal's needs. Healing alone does not necessarily mean that an animal is ready to survive independently.
Where possible and appropriate, we aim to release animals into suitable environments that take account of their origin, species and welfare.
8. When an Animal Cannot Be Released
Sadly, not every animal can return to the wild.
Some injuries or illnesses have lasting consequences, and some animals may have a poor prognosis despite appropriate treatment.
Where release is not possible, we consider the animal's welfare and available options carefully, seeking appropriate veterinary input. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve specialist referral or humane euthanasia where continued life would involve unacceptable suffering or a poor quality of life.
Keeping an animal alive is not always the kindest outcome. Our responsibility is to prioritise its welfare, even when decisions are difficult.
9. Can I Receive Updates About the Animal?
We understand that finders often become emotionally invested in an animal they have helped, and we appreciate the kindness involved in bringing wildlife to our attention.
However, our team must prioritise the animals in our care, including essential treatment, cleaning, feeding, monitoring and rehabilitation.
We may not always be able to provide frequent individual updates, and we cannot guarantee a particular outcome.
If you have a query about an animal you have admitted, please contact us through our usual channels. Any updates we can provide will depend on our available time and the circumstances of the case.
We are grateful for your understanding and patience.
Every Animal Deserves Appropriate Care
At CapesWildlifeRescue, we believe responsible wildlife rehabilitation requires compassion, knowledge, teamwork and sound welfare decisions.
Our on-site veterinary surgeon and Registered Veterinary Nurse work alongside our wildlife care team to support the animals admitted to our facility, with care tailored to their individual circumstances.
From the first assessment through treatment, recovery and potential release, our focus remains the same: to give every animal in our care the best possible opportunity for a good quality of life and a return to the wild wherever appropriate.
Thank you for trusting CapesWildlifeRescue to help the wildlife that needs us.