Almost Road Kill

[Deek-One]

I've just ran over a seagull chick (large but grey). What should I do ?

[New Forester]

Is this a chick covered in down, or a juvenile gull, fully grown but with brown feathers? (It's jolly late for a chick...) Is it injured? If not and it's a chick, put it somewhere safe near where you found it & the parents will look after it. If not a chick it'll just fly off. If it is injured and doesn't recover straight away, it's probably kindest to kill it quickly. Take it to the vet (who'll do it free if it's wild), or if you can stomach it smash its head with something heavy, like a hammer or large stone. Quick, kind, but messy. Hold it so its head is close to solid ground, then be firm and accurate. It'll flap and bleed a lot afterwards, so hold it tight. (A traditional poachers' way for pheasants was to crunch the head with your teeth, but I've never had the bottle to try that).

[undercovers]

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