Spring 2017 | Issue 12 Autumn-Winter 2017 | Issue 13 | Page 17

A bag-full of tiny kittens In May four tiny kittens were admitted to the Centre after being found abandoned in a shopping bag next to a canal. The month-old kittens, named Bellamy, Murphy, Monty and Octavia by West Hatch staff, were found tied in a bag that had been dumped behind Morrisons supermarket in Bridgwater. The kittens were not only trapped, but cold and hungry too. However on arrival at the Centre they were not mature enough to feed themselves and so our dedicated staff had to take them on for hand-rearing. After a tricky start and many late night and early morning feeds, they finally flourished and grew into energetic and playful kittens. There was a happy ending for all these youngsters who have since been found homes for life. Wildlife roundup The Wildlife Centre has seen 128 different species of animals admitted up to October this year, and the variety has certainly kept staff on their toes. Our most commonly admitted animal species is, as ever, the Herring Gull, with 618 brought in to date in 2017! Hedgehogs come in at number two with 318 admissions, and Mallard Ducks are a close third place with 311 individuals having been cared for at the Centre so far this year. Grey Seals rank 35th with 20 animals on the record and the Common Seal came 61st with just five individuals so far this year. There are 29 species recording just one admission each, ranging from Coots and Cormorants to the Common Dormouse. 17