Badly injured wildlife?

Stephen Raff · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2011, 10:15 PM

Today whilst out walking I heard a animals screech and when I turned round I realized a stoat (pretty sure) had ran in front of a cyclist and been ran over. I could tell by the scene it was badly injured (I dont wish to talk detail) but I could also tell the animal was still living. I felt so sad and upset myself and had to force myself to keep walking on and leave the couple involved to deal with it, I also felt sorry for the poor lady who was obviously distraught.

So this left me lost with thought and indeed put a downer on the rest of my day as to what I would of done if it were me. I've come across injured wildlife in the past and some takes a trip to the nearest vets or rescue centre and some are placed peacefully under a bush or just out the way to let nature take its course. What troubles me though is what I would do if an animal was very badly injured and suffering and so I wondered if anyone would share there thoughts.

Stephen

smeesue · #2 (**permalink**) 09-04-2011, 10:27 PM

It's a very hard call to make, always. I have to say that if it was me, and I had to choose between leaving the animal to suffer until an inevitable death, I'd probably help it on its' way. Quick and clean is better than prolonged and agonising any day.

Side note, but relevant; our dog, Jack, who is 9yrs old, has been with us since he was 8wks and has a terminal brain tumour. It hasn't affected his personality, but is attacking his motor functions, balance, and muscle tone. He's lost at least half his body weight. He was given a couple of months last August by one of the leading vetinary neurologists in Europe but has clearly decided he's on his own timetable and is still with us.

My point is this; he's in no pain. If he was in pain, couldn't get up, couldn't walk etc, I would have no hesitation whatsoever in taking him on that desperately sad but ultimately kind one way trip to the vet. But whilst he's not in pain and still has a reasonable quality of life, I'm not prepared to interfere. I think the principle remains the same whether it's a domestic animal or a wild one. If the animal is lurching, in agony, towards inevitable death, if leaving it alone will cause it suffering, then we have a duty to help it, as we do with our beloved pets.

RKB · #3 (**permalink**) 09-04-2011, 10:45 PM

In that situation the kindest thing is to kill it. It's not nice, but leaving something to suffer - or prolonging that suffering by dragging it out while trying to find a vet etc to do it - is much worse. A couple of generations ago people were more used to killing things, and squeamishness has become increasingly common, but knowing how to do it and keeping a clear head while dealing with the situation is a very humane skill to have. It is also very easy, you just have to be confident about it and committed to the act - the quicker and more certain, the more humane it is. Forget about breaking necks etc, the best method for the unsure is to cover the animal/bird (if possible, e.g. with a plastic bag) and use a few rapid, heavy, very determined blows towards the head end, using whatever is available (large heavy stick, brick, or even your heel).

It's not pretty (if you look, and you don't have to), but it is very quick and very definite and ends suffering immediately. The secret, if there is one, is to not do it in half-measures. Aim well and aim hard, then walk on and don't dwell on it. You wont feel happy, but you will feel a certain amount of pride that you have done the right thing well.

The first time is hard, the second too, but after a few times it does get easier. Many people will say they "couldn't do it", but what that really means is that they wouldn't like to - everybody can wield a heavy stick or stamp their foot, so there's no "couldn't" about it. It's just the squeamish mental hurdle that needs to be gotten over, and I always remind myself that causing untold suffering by deferring the necessary action is pure selfishness on my part.

Richard Baber · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 07:22 AM

I agree entirely with RKB's excellent reply and I imagine that many of us have found ourselves in this situation. On one occasion, a blackbird shot off a bank straight into the front wheel of my bicycle many years ago, badly mangling itself. It didn't take more than a glance to realise that there was no way the bird was going to recover from its injuries so I quickly ended its suffering. If dispatching the animal is in its best interests, and this is obviously a judgement call, you need to be as dispassionate as you can, ignore your own feelings and bite the bullet.

Richard

faz · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 07:28 AM

agree with RKB and RICHARD you have to be cruel to be kind

Stephen Raff · #6 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 08:12 AM

Thanks for the replies. I'm uncertain what the couple did yesterday as it was a very busy area with the cycle path, walk way and a canal so lots of people around and endless children. Hopefully they waited for a quiet moment and put the stoat out of its misery.

Stephen

werdnal · #7 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 08:49 AM

Its such a hard call isn't it. I have put a couple of birds out of their mysery, but it is more difficult with larger ones and mammals. We keep chickens, and my hubby has used his air rifle to finish a couple of them (old and poorly) - we cannot bring ourselves to twist necks as afraid we won't to it properly and cause them more suffering. If we found a small injured animal/bird at home he would use this method on them too, but still find it very difficult.

We had a seagull with a very mangled wing (obviously past saving), sitting on our garden pond last year. I was home on my own and it was far too big for me to deal with myself, but I managed to catch and put it in a box, and our local RSPCA centre is only 10 minutes away, so I took it there, knowing they would give it a quick and stressfree end.

Hubby said he was sure he ran over a squirrel on the way home on Friday, even though he looked in his mirrors and couldn't see anything, but he was on a very fast section of busy road and couldn't stop. Hopefully if it was lying injured, the following cars would have finished it off quickly.

STYRBJORN · #8 (**permalink**) 10-04-2011, 10:29 AM

Agree totally with RKB, including the stomp on the head. Also, the RSPCA accept "clubbing" as an acceptable means of humane dispatch. With a stoat, a size 9 DM or heavy stick makes more sense than trying to pick up the unfortunate creature and getting badly bitten.

Ric

~T~ · #9 (**permalink**) 11-04-2011, 11:01 PM

I've clubbed a very badly injured jackdaw and a young rabbit, both of which were well past saving. Not a nice thing but has to be done when they are on very obvious pain. Defo agree with the methods mentioned.