Pregnant deer found in road

4:19pm Saturday 21st June 2008

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A pregnant fallow deer was found on a busy road.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) and Sussex Police were called to the A22 at Uckfield on Friday morning.

The deer was loaded into an ambulance and taken to Horsebridge Vets where she was treated.

No fractures could be found but there was nasty bruising to her spine.

Once stable she was transported up to the specialist deer hospital at St Tiggywinkles in Buckinghamshire by Trevor Weeks and Tony Neads from WRAS.

Mr Weeks said: "Using straw donated by Sussex Horse Rescue, we bedded her down in our ambulance and she was placed on an intravenous drip and driven the three-hour journey to Haddenham in Buckinghamshire.

"We were really pleased she made it okay and she has now been settled in one of their special deer stables where she is awaiting a more detailed assessment."

This is the second deer which has been taken to St Tiggywinkles in 24 hours with a baby fallow deer being rushed up at midnight on Thursday after being knocked by a car near Crawley.

WRAS has also dealt with a nest of six baby hedgehogs this week which were born in a coat at the back of a garage in Hailsham. Unfortunately they were disturbed and the mum abandoned them.

One very poorly pregnant hedgehog had to have an ultrasound and then a caesarean section where she was found to be carrying 13 babies which had all died. Normally hedgehogs have about five to six babies.

Four bats were also dealt with this week by WRAS rescuers. Two adult bats, which were attacked by cats, have been rescued and taken to the Sussex Bat Hospital. One of which was lactating and had a baby somewhere.

Two other baby bats have been found, one at Plumpton and another at Eastbourne. Unfortunately one of them died but the other is doing really well.

For more information about WRAS got to www.wildlifeambulance.org or phone the 24-hour rescue line on 07815 078234.