Slow Worm Rescue

Otto Von Larnie · #1 (**permalink**) 13-05-2011, 10:42 PM

Hello all,

I rescued a slow worm from a rat the other day, I brought her home and got out my old fish tank and a spare heat mat, set up a good little temorary shelter for her. But she wont seem to eat or drink anything, the wounds have been cleaned and treated, I shall be letting her go again in a day or two if she perks up.

can anyone give me advice, I have tried worms and woodlice, havent found any slugs just yet! (Ironic that when you actually need them they all seem to dissappear!)

I have kept all kinds of lizards before, and I thought I would handle it better than most, I have no interest in keeping her as a pet I am only looking to rehabilitate her and give her a good shot at survival.

Farplace · #2 (**permalink**) 14-05-2011, 07:34 AM

Has she seen a vet? She may need antibiotics for her wounds. She won't eat if she has an infection.

ViperaBerus · #3 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 08:59 AM

Your best bet is just to let it go. They are remarkably resilient and the food items like woodlice won't be eaten as they prefer specific slug species. The sooner you let it go, the sooner it will find food and have a better chance of survival. Sometimes there are limits to what we can do, after that, it is down to the animal and its natural instincts. It certainly has a better chance of survival now you've rescued it from the rat

Otto Von Larnie · #4 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 09:10 AM

An update for you all, when I came back from work yesterday she had eaten EVERYTHING! I was quite amazed, my niece who I had left checking on her said that she looked a lot better and I really was surprised at just what an improvement there was over night!

She will probably have a bit of a scar, but she is fit as a fiddle, we released her at the same site we found her into some nice downed fir trees!

Good result I think, thanks guys!

dampflippers · #5 (**permalink**) 15-05-2011, 10:52 AM

Well done- sounds good.

JaySteel · #6 (**permalink**) 17-05-2011, 05:03 PM

Well done Otto Von Larnie! I had a similar experience with a rescued common lizard. At first it wouldn't eat or drink anything and then it ate over a dozen meal worms in one go before I released it. I think they just need to be left alone for a bit to settle down.

Best regards,
Jason