Nature Trust - FEE Malta Wildlife Rescue Team

🐭 An unexpected houseguest with a happy ending 💚

Not every unexpected visitor in your home is a pest. Some are simply tiny wild animals that have found themselves in the wrong place.

This little shrew had made its way into a house where several pets also live. Concerned for its safety, the residents contacted our Wildlife Rescue Team and asked for help.
Using a humane live trap, our volunteers safely caught the tiny visitor and relocated it to a more suitable habitat. And judging by the release video, it was certainly ready to get going 😄

But there’s something rather fascinating about these little creatures: Although shrews may look like mice, they aren’t rodents at all. The Etruscan shrew is one of the world's smallest mammals and it feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates. Far from being household pests, they play a vital role in our local ecosystems.
Shrews are also protected wildlife in Malta, and their biology makes them particularly vulnerable when trapped. They have an exceptionally fast metabolism and need to feed frequently to meet their energy requirements. Without access to food, prolonged confinement can quickly become dangerous, stress and unsuitable temperatures can add to the risks.

This is why it’s so important to minimise the time a shrew spends trapped and return it to a suitable habitat as soon as safely possible.

And this little visitor certainly didn’t waste any time making the most of its second chance! 🌿

A big thank you to the residents for recognising that their unexpected houseguest deserved a little help rather than harm.

Sometimes, the kindest way to welcome a visitor is to help it find the way back out 🐭💚

All of the animals that we rescue are protected species and it is illegal in Malta to harm them or keep them as pets.

Our volunteers have wildlife handling permits and training as well as equipment in order to rescue these creatures. If you spot any of the wild animals that we rescue injured or in danger, please call the Wildlife Rescue Team Malta on 99999505.

🙏 A massive thank you always goes to the public who call us when they notice an animal in distress, our vets, and our dedicated rescue and rehabilitation volunteers.

Our rehabilitation centre at Xrobb L-Ghagin in Malta is open to the public so that you can come and see the animals we have in rehab including Sea Turtles and Hedgehogs. Entrance is free (donations always welcome) however booking in advance is necessary, please contact [email protected] for more information.

We thank you in advance for your support and help 💗💗

The Wildlife Rehab Project is carried out by Nature Trust - FEE Malta Nature Trust - FEE Malta Wildlife Rescue Team at the Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park and Wildlife Rehab Centre and is supported by ERA - Environment & Resources Authority , Lottoland Malta , Melita , Megastore.com.mt and MIEMA - Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency .

🐢 A little peek behind the scenes 💚

Tank cleaning day means a temporary change of scenery for some of our sea turtle patients, and a perfect opportunity for a little roll call 🐢

Say hello to Gerbulin, Xuxu, Lexie, Tonina, Loona, Elizabeth, Sami and Tommy, some of the turtles currently undergoing rehabilitation with us 💚

Different turtles, different stories, and each receiving the individual care they need 🐢💚

All of the animals that we rescue are protected species and it is illegal in Malta to harm them or keep them as pets.

Our volunteers have wildlife handling permits and training as well as equipment in order to rescue these creatures. If you spot any of the wild animals that we rescue injured or in danger, please call the Wildlife Rescue Team Malta on 99999505.

🙏 A massive thank you always goes to the public who call us when they notice an animal in distress, our vets, and our dedicated rescue and rehabilitation volunteers.

Our rehabilitation centre at Xrobb L-Ghagin in Malta is open to the public so that you can come and see the animals we have in rehab including Sea Turtles and Hedgehogs. Entrance is free (donations always welcome) however booking in advance is necessary, please contact [email protected] for more information.

We thank you in advance for your support and help 💗💗

The Wildlife Rehab Project is carried out by Nature Trust - FEE Malta Nature Trust - FEE Malta Wildlife Rescue Team at the Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park and Wildlife Rehab Centre and is supported by ERA - Environment & Resources Authority , Lottoland Malta , Melita , Megastore.com.mt and MIEMA - Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency .

The Xrobb L-Għaġin Nature Park and Wildlife Rehab Centre was cofunded by EU funds under the ERDF funding mechanism, Fondi.eu.

We are also working, through the project LIFE OASIS, on improving the reporting and retrieval of marine litter at sea, and increasing awareness on sea turtle handling and rescue — ensuring a safer home to our loggerhead turtles.

🐢 Lura fil-baħar! 🌊

Ilbieraħ, Jackpot u Rebecca reġgħu ngħataw il-ħelsien tagħhom wara ġimgħat ta’ kura fiċ-Ċentru ta’ Riabilitazzjoni tal-Ħajja Selvaġġa ta’ Xrobb l-Għaġin.

Jackpot ġiet salvata mill-uffiċjali tal-ERA wara li nstabet qed tbati biex tgħum, filwaqt li Rebecca nstabet b’oġġett barrani ħiereġ minn imnifsejha. It-tnejn ingħataw it-trattament u l-kura meħtieġa, u wara ġimgħat ta’ monitoraġġ u rkupru, ġie kkonfermat li kienu qed jgħumu sew u lesti biex jerġgħu lura fil-baħar.

Dan ir-rilaxx jirrifletti l-kollaborazzjoni kontinwa bejn l-ERA u Nature Trust Malta fis-salvataġġ, ir-riabilitazzjoni u l-ħarsien tal-annimali tal-baħar 💙

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🐢 Back to the sea! 🌊

Yesterday, Jackpot and Rebecca returned to the sea after weeks of care at the Xrobb l-Għaġin Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

Jackpot was rescued by ERA officials after being found struggling to swim, while Rebecca was found with a foreign object coming from her nostrils. Both received the necessary treatment and care, and after weeks of monitoring and recovery, were confirmed to be swimming well and ready to return to the sea.

Their release reflects the continued collaboration between the ERA and Nature Trust Malta in the rescue, rehabilitation and protection of marine wildlife 💙

Maybe we should have named the project DRINKING water for wildlife, as the birds don't seem to have gotten the memo 🤭

Another little glimpse in to our natural world via our trail cameras 💚 and also a lovely photo of a chameleon using one of our water stations at Ghar Dalam (many thanks to Heritage Malta for filling and maintaining the water bowls on site 🙏) We love seeing both the regular visitors but also wondering what other kinds of wildlife will show up next!

A big thank you to the volunteers that have been refilling our water bowls all summer, especially during the heatwaves!

The Water for Wildlife project is being run by Nature Trust - FEE Malta and is sponsored by the Atlas Insurance Community involvement fund.

We also have some free downloadable PDFs available with more information about our local wildlife and when you need to call the wildlife rescue team for assistance 🙏

English - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X47KmCl7LLS_arcLxacuc6WhoDi8EShD/view?usp=sharing
Maltese - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Bs5EliCK4z7kSLkxz3wk8Wari6KymkIC/view?usp=sharing