Stapeley has received over 81,000 admissions of wild, exotic and domestic animals since its opening in 1996.

We have lots of experience handling rescued swans, bats and polecats, as well as many other species. Pigeons, ducks, hedgehogs and swans are the most frequent animals admitted, but the centre also sees many birds of prey, garden birds and mammals like badgers, foxes and otters.

Our top 5 admissions last year were: wood pigeons (892), hedgehogs (523), mallard ducks (446), mute swans (425) and blackbirds (291).

Take a look behind the scenes in our wildlife rehabilitation footage.

Seasonal variations

Our work is very seasonal with almost 50 per cent of our admissions coming in between May and July. Many of the animals we admit during this time are 'orphaned'.

For more information about our seasonal admissions download our rescue, rehabilitation and release facts and figures (PDF 126 KB)

Wildlife rehabilitation facilities

Our facilities include:

• Five multi-purpose hospital rooms for orphaned and injured admissions.
   
• A separate unit for cleaning oiled seabirds and waterfowl.
   
• An x-ray unit and fully equipped operating theatre – providing the best facilities for diagnosis and emergency treatment.
   
• A specially designed isolation unit with cubicles that can be individually controlled to provide the correct levels of heat, light and ventilation for each animal.
   
• An extensive range of outdoor large pools, fox pens, a badger paddock, three waterfowl paddocks, a bat flight and various aviaries that provide the right conditions and space so that animals can fully prepare for their return to the wild.
   
• Two deep bird pools for short term holding of seals and the pre-release assessment for seabirds.

Future projects

• New raptor flight aviary.
   
• Creation  of a woodland and eco-centre to expand our education programme.
   
• Renovation of main flight aviaries (raptor and passerine).

Find out how you can help projects in need of your support.
 

Releasing wildlife casualties

The inspectorate and staff at Stapeley carefully manage the way we work with our admissions, ensuring that the welfare of each individual is prioritised at all times.

Through years of experience we’ve produced protocols to improve the care and treatment of each individual animal admitted to our care.

We then release the rehabilitated animals back to their natural habitats, usually where they had originally come from.

Find out more about releasing wildlife and post release monitoring.