Conservation FAQs
Click a question to reveal the answer.
Q: What do I do if I find an injured animal?
Q: What do I do if I find an abandoned young animal?
The best thing to do is leave it alone! Parent birds and mammals often leave their young for short periods of time (sometimes in the most unusual places) to look for food. Although it may seem like the baby has been abandoned, the parents are usually not far away.
You should only intervene if the baby is in real danger, on a busy path for example, and it should be placed nearby where the parent can find it again.
If you pick up and handle a young mammal, it will almost certainly be rejected by its mother as it will carry human scent. This does not apply to birds as UK species have a poor sense of smell.
Young animals taken from the wild by well-meaning members of the public face a much lower chance of survival, and this also puts added pressure on animal rescue centres who have to hand-rear them.
Q: Is it ok to feed the ducks and geese on the lakes?
Q: I have Japanese knotweed growing in my garden. How do I deal with it?
Q: Why do crows attack people during spring?
Q: How do I stop foxes entering my garden?
Q: I haven't seen a hedgehog in a long time. What's happened to them?
Q: I often see swans swimming with a foot up on its back. Should I be concerned?
Q: My tree is protected - does this mean I can't do anything to it?
Q: My neighbour's tree is too big - what can I do?
Q: How do I get a council-owned tree pruned?
Q: What can I do if a tree infringes my "right to light"?
Q: What should I do if I see or suspect that a wildlife crime is taking place?
