Essential food and equipment is needed ahead of the orphan season.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA) has launched an appeal for supplies ahead of the orphan season. They are asking for donations of puppy milk, heat pads, and teats so that they can successfully rehabilitate orphaned animals at their National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross.

The wildlife hospital looks after hundreds of orphaned foxes, otters, deer and badgers each year, that would not survive in the wild after being separated from their parents. Animals can be brought to the centre at a very young age and need regular feed and care.  

One such animal was Pelly, a badger who was admitted when she was two days old weighing just 72g, after being discovered in a hay stack by a farmer. She needed milk feeds every two hours, day and night until she could be weaned at eight weeks old.

In order to develop natural behaviours, Pelly was integrated with a new family group of other orphaned badgers at the centre, and after about eight months of care, she, and the rest of new family were successfully released at a site with supported feeding.

The assistant manager at the centre, April Dodds, said: “We never know what animals are going to need our help each year, but we do know that we always need lots and lots of puppy milk for orphans like Pelly who require hourly or daily feeds.

“Hand feeding lasts for quite a long period of time to mimic when they would naturally wean from their mothers and give them the best chance of survival in the wild.

“We’d be so grateful for any donations that people can spare!”

Individuals wishing to make a donation to the Scottish SPCA can do so via the centre’s Amazon wish list, or from any online retailer that can deliver directly to them. The Centre can also accept donations daily between 1pm and 4pm delivered to the reception at the Scottish SPCA National Wildlife Rescue Centre, Fishcross, Clackmannanshire, FK10 3AN.