UK Wildlife Rescue Seeks £10K After Storm Damage

A wildlife rescue center that's been saving injured animals for over 40 years is asking for help after a winter storm left its recovery pools in ruins.

Cuan Wildlife Rescue in Much Wenlock, England, discovered heavy snow from Storm Goretti had collapsed the outdoor pools where swans, geese, and ducks complete their recovery journey. The damage couldn't have come at a worse time. Hundreds of ducklings are expected to arrive in the coming months as spring brings baby season.

"The pools play a vital part in their treatment," said assistant manager Becky Lewis. Right now, swans are squeezed into shallow indoor pools so small they can't even swim properly. For birds that spend their lives on water, that's like asking a marathon runner to train in a closet.

The rescue center has set a fundraising goal of £10,000 to replace damaged poles and safety netting. Without the protective netting, the facility also can't follow bird flu safety protocols. That puts both the recovering animals and wild bird populations at risk.

About 50 animals currently call Cuan home while they heal from injuries. The center cares for all British wildlife species and expects its busiest season to begin soon. The outdoor pools serve as the final stage of recovery, where waterfowl build strength and get used to outdoor conditions before returning to the wild.

The Ripple Effect

Every animal that successfully recovers at Cuan goes on to rejoin wild populations. Those healed swans will mate and raise cygnets. Rescued ducks will join migrating flocks. The investment in these pools doesn't just save individual birds. It helps maintain healthy wildlife populations across the region for generations to come.

Lewis emphasized that donations of any size make a real difference. Even small contributions add up when a community rallies together. The rescue has been serving wildlife for more than four decades because people who care keep showing up when help is needed most.

The center's supporters have already begun responding, proving once again that when nature needs a hand, humans can be pretty amazing.