Wild Touch, Rollesby, Great Yarmouth NR29 5DZ

We visited Wild Touch on 16 November 2016 to offer help and guidance on applying for a grant from the Chapman Trust as Wild Touch were relatively newly established as a rescue centre. We were warmly welcomed into David and Jessica Carr’s small bungalow in a cul-de-sac from where they have run a private wildlife sanctuary as well as hospital for birds and small mammals for the last few years. Their 12’ x 12’ living room, cheerfully painted and comfortably cluttered with baby toys and equipment for their 10-month old son (who, to our amazement, already walks!) housed two large cages in which several small rescued tropical parrots live. This room was warm, clean, very noisy and it was immediately apparent that careful, compassionate and affectionate care is offered to all the birds. Both Jessica and David gave us a detailed history of each bird, how they came to have it, and what plans, appropriate to each bird or animal’s individual needs, were in place for their final re-homing or release into the wild, once their recuperation period is over. 

We were then taken into the bathroom to see a swallow sitting on the window catch. He’d fallen out of his nest in the spring and been rescued by someone who gave it to David and Jessica, who will nurture it until its body weight reaches the correct level. At the right time and place, it will be released into the wild. On their kitchen worktop were two small glass tanks housing rescued toads which, again, will be released into an appropriate environment at the right time.

Going outside, we were invited to walk on planks that had been thoughtfully placed throughout the muddy garden in order for us to have a closer inspection of old, wooden cages which fill the garden. Pigeons, a raven - walking free and anxious to make contact with our wellington boots - two magpies, three ducks, one exotic red fox (an American escapee from a fur farm) live in these cages, some having been there for several years as they are either not suitable for re-homing or cannot be allowed to fly free.  The main reason seems, in the case of the raven, two magpies, ducks and a pigeon or two, that ‘imprinting’ or ‘imprinting on’ has taken hold. We learned this is a zoological term, the implication of which is these birds think they belong to the human species and tragically, therefore, cannot re-integrate into their own. Someone, in ignorance, had either reared a hatched egg or ‘rescued’ an abandoned chick, and imprinting had quickly taken place. 

David and Jessica feel strongly that unenlightened pet owners as well as the general public play a significant part in why imprinted birds, and sometimes mammals, are regularly dumped on their doorstep and why, sadly, they cannot afterwards be released into the wild. David and Jessica have experimented with releasing the magpies as well as the raven but each has, at different times, caused mayhem and terror among neighbours by pecking at their windows or trying to come through cat flaps. David regularly gives educational talks to schools, responsible pet ownership being one of his major themes.           

About two years ago Wild Touch was launched for these reasons (this is from their Facebook site):

Who we are

Formed out of necessity in 2014 when several local wildlife rescues closed, Wild Touch wildlife rescue is a small, experienced rescue service run from our own home in Norfolk rescuing and rehabilitating wild and exotic animals. We are dedicated to providing the best possible care for any sick, injured and orphaned wildlife that comes into our care, regardless of species, whether that means caring for it ourselves or transferring it on to another facility. We work closely with a network of vets, specialist keepers and rehabilitators around the country to ensure each animal receives the treatment it requires.

Our Ethics

It is essential that every animal that comes into our hands is given the highest quality care possible. If we do not have the correct facilities to cater for that species or individual properly then it will be transferred to somewhere that does. Wildlife rehabilitation is about the welfare of the individual animal and, successful or not, usually has little bearing on the rest of its species. Therefore every animal receives the same high standard of care, regardless of population or status. Common and “pest” species such as pigeons and corvids* are treated in the same way as the rarer ones.

Our Aims

It is always our ultimate aim to return a wild animal to the wild. This release process is usually a long, complex procedure and must be done in exactly the right way, otherwise all the previous work gone into treating the animal is wasted. Again, if we do not have the appropriate conditions to do this properly, the animal will be passed on to somewhere that does. If the animal is not able to be released we must assess its future very carefully. We do not have a "no kill policy" as we do not believe it is always appropriate for wildlife. Some disabled animals may adapt very well to a life in captivity, and if this is the case then we will find a suitable home for them. Many however do not, and in these cases it is more humane for the animal to be euthanised.

Wildlife Encounters

Meet nature closer than you ever expected!

We offer hands on, educational animal encounters with a variety of native and exotic wildlife for schools, clubs, businesses, residential homes, parties and other groups. Our standard, 2 hour encounter brings you into close contact with a selection of native wildlife and exotic reptiles, and touches on many of the subjects covered in the national curriculum, however we also offer a range of experiences focused on particular aspects of the natural world. If you would like us to focus on a topic not listed below just give us a call and we can customise our display to fit with your project.

Prices for our 2 hour encounters are:

Groups under 20 - £70

Groups 20 – 60 - £3.50 per head

Groups over 60 - £200

plus travel expenses”

*Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. In common English, they are known as the crow family, or, more technically, corvids. Over 120 species are described.” (Wikipedia)

Jessica and David used to work for the Seal and Bird Rescue Trust in early 2000 at Ridlington when it was thriving under the direction of its founder, Bev Cosse who died in December 2013. Mrs. Cosse was described in the EDP obituary as “the powerhouse hands-on chairman”.

Seal and Bird Rescue Trust is currently run as a much smaller operation near Great Yarmouth, and its Trustees have now given permission for Wild Touch to use the building at Ridlington as a temporary hospital as Jessica and David’s over-crowded spare room at home is proving much too small to cope adequately with the growing number of birds and animals of differing sizes and species needing individual treatment. Some of Wild Touch’s animals and birds have now been transferred there, and Wild Touch will also look after a few of Seal and Bird Rescue’s species that had to be left behind on the premises as suitable volunteers could not be found to look after them.

Re-locating to the Ridlington location

For the sake of economy, just one room at Ridlington will be heated for use as Wild Touch’s hospital but will also serve as a tropical zone for exotic species. Six injured hedgehogs, one pigeon, one gull, one corn snake, one dragon gecko-type creature, and a tropical tortoise, the African Sulcata are currently being cared for in this room. 

But two rooms off this benefit from its warmth flowing in, and is currently where an injured gull is being treated as well as a Canada Goose.  However, these rooms are in urgent need of a thorough industrial clean, having been overlooked and neglected in the last few years. Yet another task on the very long To-Do List that Wild Touch has compiled.   

Wild Touch’s levels of enthusiasm, day-to-day commitment, compassionate care, skill, experience and ethics are outstanding.  David and Jessica display low-key but excellent competence in caring for, and knowledge of, every creature coming into their care, and cheerfully work very long hours to meet their needs.  The ongoing care, life and times of all their animals and birds are fully documented. 

Wild Touch’s most immediate need is for a strong 20ft. wire bird cage to replace several rotting wooden ones. A new cage would be transferred immediately to the new site at Ridlington so birds could be more comfortably and compassionately re-homed. ‘