Mammals FAQs

The best time to see deer is at dusk or dawn. Generally male and females remain in separate groups until it is time for mating. 

Red deer: Rutting occurs between September and October. Red deer have been observed throughout East Anglia but rutting has specifically been reported at Minsmere reserve and Thetford Forest. Events have been organised to observe rutting in previous years, so check the RSPB and Forestry Commission websites for more information. Young red deer are born in early June. 

Roe deer: Rutting occurs between July and August. They have embryonic diapause (which means the embryo waits to develop) so they don’t give birth until May/June. Roe deer can be seen in Thetford Forrest. 

Fallow deer: Rutting occurs between October and November. Fawns are born between May and June. A large herd can be seen at Holkham Estate. 

Chinese water deer: Rutting occurs between November and December. Fawns are born between May and June. They may be seen at NWT Hickling Broad and Marshes and Strumpshaw Fen. 

Muntjac are not native to Britain. They originate from China but were introduced to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in 1838. After escapes and deliberate movement of the deer by humans, they have now spread over southern England and are increasing in number. Muntjac are the smallest deer in Britain – about 45 centimetres at the shoulder. They have a hunched posture due to their haunches (hips) being higher than their withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades).  

Muntjac fur is generally brown, although they have a darker marking on their face. In the male, this is V shaped and stretches up the ‘pedicles’ (the soft, fur covered tissue at the top of the head that their antlers grow from), whereas the females have a dark U or diamond shape. The pedicles are characteristic of the males in this species and are extensions of the skull. These pedicles have short, straight antlers (about 10 centimetres long) extending from them during the autumn.  

Bucks (male deer) also have large canine teeth, which protrude from the top lip and are used in fighting. Both sexes have black scent glands under both eyes and a large, characteristic tail which is held upright to reveal when the animal is startled. You may hear a muntjac before seeing it as they have a loud and quite distinctive ‘barking’ call. 

Muntjac inhabit both deciduous and coniferous woodland with shrubby areas where they can feed on berries, acorns, and grasses. They can be seen throughout Norfolk and can sometimes be found visiting gardens with good cover. 

Muntjac can be seen at any time of the year. Unlike other deer species in Britain, the Muntjac does not have a fixed rutting season and they will breed all through the year. They are active day and night, but dawn and dusk are the best times to see them, especially in areas subject to human disturbance. 

It is very difficult to stop deer from entering a garden other than erecting a high fence all around, which could be quite costly.   

However, it has been found that planting clumps of garlic or planting mostly plants that deer don’t like to eat can deter them from feeding in gardens. 

The Deer Society has a range of best practice guides to help you to manage deer around your property. Visit their website for more information.

Bat boxes can be positioned on trees, buildings, and garden walls. If possible, choose a site where bats are known to feed. Locate the box in a site that is sheltered from strong winds, heavy rain, and long periods of strong sunlight. 

Place the box as high up as possible to avoid disturbance or predatory cats. Most bat species prefer boxes more than 5 metres above the ground. If possible, position the box near to linear vegetation, such as a line of trees or a hedgerow. This will help bats to navigate between their nest site and feeding grounds. If positioning a box in a tree, try to ensure that branches are cleared from around the box entrance so that the bats’ approach to the box is not impeded. 

According to the Bat Conservation Trust, if you find an intact dead bat you can request a Dead Bat Pack, where your bat will then be sent to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Request a Dead Bat Pack. 

Bats are highly protected by the law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Regulation 39 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994. It is an offence to kill, injure, handle or disturb them, their breeding sites or resting places. 

Bats make very good house guests: they do not chew through wood or wires, they do not bring in nesting materials, and they are extremely quiet. Bats usually use buildings during the summer but move out in the winter to a hibernation site. 

None of the bats found in Britain drink blood – they all eat insects. In fact, only 3 bat species out of more than 1,000 species worldwide drink blood. These are the vampire bats which feed on mammals and birds, and they are only found in South America. 

Badgers are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and it is an offence to willfully injure, kill or take badgers. The law states that if any work carried out such as tree felling, timber extraction, or mechanical cultivation near to a badger sett has the potential to disturb badgers, then a licence should be applied for. 

To be on the safe side, it is best to speak to the local licensing authority as there are boundaries regarding ‘safe’ distances from badger setts. Further information on badgers, the law, and how to obtain a licence can be found on gov.uk. 

Badgers will prey on hedgehogs, but they mainly feed on soil invertebrates, amphibians, nuts, and berries. Competition for similar food items and prey means hedgehog numbers are likely to be lower where badger numbers are high. However, hedgehogs and badgers have lived in the same habitats for millions of years and evidence suggests the two species can coexist happily when food availability is high. The widespread decline of hedgehogs in the UK is likely due to habitat loss, road casualties, and climate change. There is no evidence suggesting that badgers are contributing to the hedgehog decline. 

The main reasons for the long-term decline of hedgehogs are varied and include habitat loss, road casualties, and ‘habitat fragmentation’. In rural areas, the fragmentation of habitat is a big contributor to their decline. Their natural habitat is the edge of woodland, but hedges and parkland are a perfect substitute. However, larger fields with fewer hedges and increased road building fragment the hedgehog habitat. Fragmentation means hedgehogs may find it difficult to cross boundaries between these isolated islands and small populations can become lost. Other factors, such as decreased food due to pesticides, may also be affecting hedgehog numbers. 

In urban areas, hedgehogs are also declining due to habitat loss, road casualties, and climate change. Increased numbers of paved and plastic grass gardens mean there are less gardens that are suitable for hedgehogs. Tall fences and walls prevent them moving through the landscape to find adequate food and hibernation spots. Joining up gardens by making holes under fences can help hedgehogs in urban areas to move from one place to another to find food. For more information, visit the Hedgehog Street website. 

The best way to help hedgehogs is to provide them with a suitable habitat. Hedgehogs will travel up to 2 kilometres each night to feed – leaving gaps in fences will help them to move about and find food. If your neighbours will join in, then the hedgehogs’ habitat will immediately improve.  

Leaving areas of your garden undisturbed allows hedgehogs to find shelter amongst leaves and long grass. It helps if you can avoid cutting the grass and using a strimmer in these areas. If you are going to use a strimmer, check the area carefully before you start as hedgehogs can be badly injured by the cord of a strimmer. 

Extra shelter can be provided by creating hibernation spots. This can be a box or an undisturbed log pile. Hedgehogs also love the warmth of compost heaps, which are also a source of food. You can supplement their food with hedgehog-specific feed, or cat and dog food, but do not give hedgehogs milk or fish-flavoured cat meat. 

Many hedgehogs are killed on roads, so slow down when driving at night and take care to avoid crossing wildlife. 

For more information, visit the Hedgehog Street website.

Every night, hedgehogs will eat at least 100 invertebrates such as snails, worms, and beetles. If you want to put out supplementary food, you can buy special dried food for hedgehogs, or you can feed them dog or cat meat – any flavour except fish. Do not give hedgehogs milk, but ensure that there is water in your garden, not just for hedgehogs but for all animals. 

The harvest mouse is the UK’s smallest rodent and is the only mouse to build a nest of woven grass above ground. 

Harvest mice nests are constructed on stalks of grasses such as cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), common reed, or in cereal fields. The nests are found at least 30 centimetres above ground and may be higher in tall reeds. They can be as small as 5 centimetres in diameter for non-breeding nests and up to 10 centimetres in diameter for breeding nests. 

The outer framework of the nest is constructed by weaving a large number of shredded grass leaves. The nest is then lined by pulling further grasses through the wall until it is densely woven without leaving an obvious entrance. Nests are more conspicuous in winter when the surrounding vegetation has died down. 

Hares are larger than rabbits and have longer ears with black tips. They also have longer hind legs. When they run, rabbits cock their tails up, so you see the white flash of their ‘scut’ (short tail), whereas hares usually hold their tails down, so you don’t see the white underside.

Boxing occurs during March/April when two or more hares stand on their back legs and 'box' each other with their front feet. The behaviour can be quite intense and is the origin of the ‘Mad March Hare’ phrase. Boxing is part of courtship behaviour – usually it is the female warning off unwanted males rather than fighting between two males. 

Unfortunately, due to the serious decline of our native red squirrel it is quite unlikely that you have seen a native red squirrel in your garden in the Norfolk area. The red squirrel is native to the UK and the grey squirrel was introduced to the UK in the 1880s from America. The grey squirrel has had a serious impact upon our native red squirrel populations, meaning that today we are more likely to see a grey squirrel than a red squirrel. 

In the past, red squirrels ran wild in the woods of East Anglia, with Kelling Heath being one of the last strongholds. However, this has not been the case for around 40 years and there have been no recent sightings of native reds. A captive breeding programme at Kelling Heath is now helping protect this endangered species.  

Squirrels do sometimes escape from captivity; however, keep observing and remember that red squirrels are considerably smaller and more delicate looking than the grey squirrel. Their coats are a chestnut red colour with pale undersides compared with the peppered grey colour of the grey squirrel. Grey squirrels also come in different shades of grey and can even sometimes appear rusty-red or black. Their colour is caused by an abnormal amount of the dark pigment (melanin) in their fur. This is a genetic condition called melanism and black squirrels are referred to as being melanistic. 

The grey squirrel is the main reason for the decline of the red squirrel. Habitat loss has also contributed to the red squirrel’s decline. This occurs when areas of woodland are destroyed or become separated by development and changing land-use. This leads to isolated areas which cannot sustain viable populations of wildlife, including red squirrels in some places. Squirrelpox virus is fatal to red squirrels but is carried by grey squirrels without causing them any harm. 

Any squirrel you see in the wild is most likely a grey squirrel as there are no wild red squirrels left in Norfolk. However, there are some places in Norfolk where red squirrels are kept in captivity and it is possible that one escapes on rare occasions. 

Despite their names, colour is not always a fool-proof way to tell grey and red squirrels apart as many grey squirrels have a red or brown tinge to their fur, while some red squirrels can be grey! Both types have pale underparts which can be white or cream in colour. This often causes confusion with many people thinking they’ve seen a red squirrel when it was actually a grey squirrel. 

The most obvious difference is their size and their ears. Red squirrels are smaller and have characteristic ear tufts which moult once a year in autumn. Grey squirrels are larger. They never have ear tufts, and their ears are much rounder than a red squirrel’s. 

Foxes are unlikely to attack cats and are generally frightened of them. 

Although there have been reports of foxes fighting with cats, it is likely that an adult cat will see off a fox quite easily. However, foxes may attack smaller pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs, and these should be kept in secure cages. 

You can reduce the risk of any confrontation by keeping your cats indoors at night – this will also prevent your cat from hunting other wildlife. 

Foxes can cause damage by digging shallow holes in lawns as they forage for food. They are attracted by the presence of worms, beetle larvae, caterpillars etc. If you have placed a fish-, blood-, or bonemeal-based fertiliser on your lawn, foxes will be attracted to this since it smells like buried food. 

It is common for foxes to build ‘dens’ in gardens and one of the most popular places is under a shed, although they will excavate the earth if they need to. They shouldn’t cause any problems being there and it will be wonderful to have such a good view of them when they are most active at dawn and dusk. 

If they breed, the cubs may play in the garden and have also been known to steal toys. Make sure there are no loose pieces of netting or fencing that the foxes could get tangled in and they should be fine. You can feed your foxes – they won’t become dependent on it as there is always plenty of other food for them. They will eat most things, but being carnivores, meat is best. 

There shouldn’t be any problems between your cats and the foxes. The two normally would avoid each other as a fox’s range in an urban environment could contain up to 100 cats. However, if there is an argument, cats usually come off best! 

The stoat has a black tip to its tail and is slightly larger than a weasel. 

The non-native American mink is in the same mammal family as the otter, stoat, and weasel – it resembles all these species in general body shape. It is quite commonly confused with the otter, especially in wetland habitats, but there are several important differences. It has a long, slim body, short legs, and a round, fluffy tail that is about a third of its body length. The otter’s tail is broad-based and flat, tapering towards the tip, and about half the body length.  

American mink are larger than stoats and weasels, but smaller than a domestic cat and about half the size of an otter. The average body length is 60 centimetres for males and 50 centimetres for females. The tail adds an extra 14-21 centimetres. The fur is rich, glossy, and generally dark brown or black, with a white or pale patch on the chin only. The pale markings on an otter extend from the chin to the chest. The muzzle of a mink is pointed and ferret-like, whereas the otter has a flattened head shape and a broad dog-like muzzle. The mink swims high in the water with the head and body visible, but the otter swims low in the water with only the head and part of the tail on show. 

Both species are agile swimmers and catch fish by chasing them underwater. The otter needs to eat 20% of its body weight in food every day, that’s about 2.5 kilogrammes. It can tackle larger prey than mink. Otters will usually eat a fish’s head first, and will quite often leave the tail. The mink has a wider diet but will eat smaller fish. An otter or mink feeding station will contain lots of fish scales and fins, especially in the winter months. 

To understand which species is involved, firstly look for any footprints the animal may have left in the mud around the area. 

Otters are much bigger than mink and have five toes on each foot, connected by webbing (although this is not always obvious, and print marks usually only show four toes). The overall footprint shape resembles that of a kite, with a footprint approximately 7 centimetres long and 6 centimetres wide. The hind print is generally bigger and can be up to 9 centimetres in length. The claw marks are represented as slight indentations. 

Mink also have five toes on each foot, but the prints are much smaller with fore prints approximately 3.5 centimetres long and up to 4 centimetres wide. The hind print is up to 4.5 centimetres long. The prints are roughly oval-shaped, with clearly defined claw marks. 

Your next piece of detective work is to see if the animal may have left some droppings nearby. 

Otter droppings (called spraints) are black and slimy when first deposited and have a strong oily smell. Over time, they become light grey and lose their thick consistency. The droppings are made up almost exclusively of fish bones, scales, and the hard-shell fragments of crustaceans. Otters use droppings as scent markings and they are quite often left in exposed places (raised banks, vegetation, stones etc). 

Mink droppings are generally 6-8 centimetres long and approximately 6-9 millimetres wide. They are often twisted and pointed at one end. Close examination is likely to show a much wider range of prey remains, including the fur and bone fragments of small rodents, bird feathers, and the husks and pips of fruit and berries. If the mink has been eating fish, the droppings are likely to resemble thin otter spraint but with a faintly acrid smell. The droppings are often used as scent markings, although some will be inconspicuously placed. 

The otter is a protected species, and it is illegal to trap or harm them in any way. The mink, however, is a relatively recent introduction to the UK, and represents a threat to some native animals, particularly the water vole. Mink are sometimes legally controlled as part of targeted conservations efforts to protect vulnerable species. 

The American mink is a non-native species to the UK, first brought over from North America to establish fur farms in the early 20th century. During this time, escapes and deliberate releases resulted in the species quickly dispersing through the landscape naturally, due to their ability to cross waterbodies, live in a range of habitats, and eat a diversity of food. Mink are predominantly carnivorous and are opportunistic hunters, often eating birds and domesticated fowl, eggs, amphibians, fish, crustaceans, and small mammals like water voles. Due to this, mink can have an adverse impact on native biodiversity and are thought to be one of the driving factors in water vole declines, and ground nesting birds near coastal areas and waterways are at particular risk of predation. For more information, see the Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative.

Otters are generally opportunistic feeders and will catch their food whilst travelling. Their ranges are surprisingly large – adult males can travel tens of kilometres.  

The diet of an otter consists largely of fish. They will eat a variety of species, such as carp, stickleback, and eels, depending on the time of year. During the spring months, amphibians form a large part of their diet. Occasionally otters will take small mammals and water birds such as coots. Unfortunately, human-made domestic materials have also been found inside otters. 

Since reintroductions in the 1980s, otters are now widespread and common in most Norfolk rivers and on parts of the coast. As well as using the main channels of the rivers, they will also take advantage of the streams, ditches, fens, and reed beds that scatter the county. 

Otters mainly sleep and rest during daylight hours in dense cover, in cavities in trees, and below ground – the latter are known as ‘holts’ and these are also used for breeding. Within its range, an otter will use a number of resting and holt sites. 

It is important to remember that both otters and their habitats are protected by law, and it is an offence to disturb them. 

The most distinctive and easiest way to find signs of an otter is their droppings, which are called ‘spraints’. Otter spraints are left in prominent places such as on ledges under bridges, and on rocks. They vary in shape, colour, and consistency but always have a very distinctive musky, almost sweet smell, reminiscent of jasmine tea or newly mown hay. Distinguishing between mink and otter droppings is relatively easy, with mink droppings (known as ‘scats’) being long and twisted in shape with a very unpleasant smell when fresh. Otter spraints have a signature scent that is unique to each individual otter, and this is a way of conveying information to one another. 

Another way of knowing if otters are present is looking out for their footprints. The footprints of otters are asymmetric and normally only show four of their five toes, although this depends on the surface they have been walking over. The webbing between the toes does occasionally show, but not always. Print sizes range between 40-80 millimetres across. The prints of mink are much smaller across and the toes are more spread out. 

The otter is a European protected species, protected under Schedule 5 Sections 9(1) and 9(4) of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation (Natural habitats &c.) Regulations 1994. The latter regulations (usually referred to as the Habitat Regulations 1994) implement the European Habitats Directive in the UK. 

Under the legislation it is an offence to deliberately kill, injure or take an otter from the wild without a licence; deliberately disturb an otter in its resting place or damage or destroy an otter’s breeding or resting site. A licence issued by Natural England is required to carry out certain activities that could adversely affect otters if these activities fall within 50 metres of an otter’s holt or resting up site. 

A licence is not required to erect a fence around a pond or lake to exclude otters.

It is not possible to trap and/or move otters anywhere within the UK. Otters are protected under the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act and under European legislation. 

Otters are mainly a river-dwelling species. It is in their nature to eat fish, eels, and crustaceans. About 40-80% of an otter's diet consists of fish, with them eating around 1 kilogramme a day. An enclosed fishery or pond simply offers a very tempting feeding opportunity for them. 

Most still waters stocked with fish are artificial, manipulated environments that support high densities of small fish or small concentrations of very large fish (usually carp) which, from the perspective of the otter, constitute part of its range and provide foraging opportunities. The onus for protecting a fishery against predation falls with the owner, or the club/syndicate using the fishery. In relation to otters, this can only effectively be achieved by specially designed fencing. Fisheries used by the public may be eligible for a grant from the Environment Agency, but otherwise the cost is the responsibility of the fishery owner, club, or syndicate. 

Information on appropriate and effective fencing specifications is available from a number of sources including the Angling Trust, Specialist Anglers Conservation Group, and the Environment Agency. 

For smaller garden ponds, it may be possible to cover the pond in a mesh or grid to stop the otter being able to dive down to the fish. 

Otter populations crashed to near extinction across most of lowland England by the mid 1970s because of pesticide poisoning, loss of habitat, and hunting. Otters were released in Norfolk by the Otter Trust between 1984 and 1997, with the approval of the statutory conservation bodies existing at the time. There have been no releases since then (other than orphaned otters which are released by the RSPCA as close as possible to the location that they came from). Since the 1970s, otters have also spread naturally from western, lowland England back across the midlands into eastern England, so the release programme simply sped up their natural re-colonisation of Norfolk. 

Water voles do not travel very far from their burrows. A female will have a territory of about 30 to 150 metres and males range over about twice that. Young water voles will travel up to about 1 kilometre when they leave the ‘nest’ in summer or autumn and disperse into the surrounding area. 

When travelling, water voles use the water courses to get around. They rarely, if ever, travel over land although they will forage within a few metres of the water’s edge. 

The water vole is in serious, rapid decline. Much is being done to conserve the species – it is a priority in the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan, and East Anglia is an important national stronghold for the water vole. Therefore, it can be considered lucky to have these creatures in your garden. “Ratty” in the famous The Wind in the Willows stories was a water vole. 

Water voles have full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (amended) which means that it is illegal to kill or disturb the shelter of a water vole. Young male water voles disperse from the nest when they are about four months old to find new habitats. It is quite common for them to then move on again to a more suitable habitat. Their occupation of small, lined garden ponds tends to be temporary and they will most likely move on. Water voles cannot be moved without a conservation licence issued by Natural England. 

Find out more on obtaining a water vole licence.

Probably. However, you are unlikely to see them until the vegetation grows back as they will mostly stay underground in their burrows. Removal of the vegetation – often necessary to keep waterways clear – not only removes their food but also takes away the cover that protects them from predators. For this reason, it is not advisable to provide food for them. You should be able to see evidence of water voles out and about again once the vegetation starts to re-grow. 

Please note: water voles are protected in England & Wales under section 9 of Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Schedule 5 of this Act makes it an offence to intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place that a water vole uses for shelter or protection. It is also an offence to disturb, kill or injure a water vole or handle a water vole without a licence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

In Norfolk, we have two types of resident seal: the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) and the harbour seal (Phoca vitulina), which is also known as the common seal. 

The grey seal can be distinguished from the harbour seal by its larger size and longer head with a sloping 'roman nose' profile. Looking straight on, their nostrils are parallel, rather than V-shaped as in harbour seals. Mainly grey in colour, the unique pattern of darker blotches and spots can be used to identify individual grey seals. 

The harbour seal has a distinct forehead and short muzzle, similar to a dog. Harbour seals have V-shaped nostrils. They are variable in colour, from blonde to black, but generally grey with dark spots. 

Grey seals give birth in Norfolk from late October through to the end of January. The harbour (common) seals give birth in the summer. 

The white pups of the grey seals are fed on the beach by their mothers for three weeks, where they put on approximately 2 kilogrammes per day. After three weeks, the pup is left by the mother. The pup will remain on the beach on its own while it moults its white coat, after which point it will go out to sea to learn to hunt. 

It is exceptionally important that mothers are not disturbed during the pupping season, otherwise they could abandon their pups or be unable to feed them enough to ensure the pups gain their optimum weight before being left to fend for themselves. It is a hard life being a grey seal pup, with up to 50% of pups dying in their first year.  

If visiting a grey seal colony, please follow the guidance issued by Friends of Horsey Seals and the National Trust. Please remember: seals are easily disturbed, so keep your distance, follow signs, and stick to the recommended viewing areas. 

For further information, please visit: 

National Trust

Friends of Horsey Seals

Harbour seals give birth to a single pup in June and July. This is unlike the grey seal that gives birth in Norfolk in late autumn and winter. When a harbour seal pup is born, it is well developed and can swim when it is just a few hours old. The female will feed her pup for three to four weeks on rich milk, which will enable the pup to double its birth weight within a few weeks. 

The main pupping colonies in Norfolk are at Blakeney Point, which is the largest grey seal pupping area in England, and at Horsey beach. 

It is exceptionally important that mothers are not disturbed during the pupping season, otherwise they could abandon their pups or be unable to feed them enough to ensure the pups gain their optimum weight before being left to fend for themselves.  

If visiting a grey seal colony, please follow the guidance issued by Friends of Horsey Seals and the National Trust. Please remember: seals are easily disturbed, so please keep your distance, follow signs, and stick to the recommended viewing areas. 

For further information, please visit: 

National Trust 

Friends of Horsey Seals 

Across Norfolk, there are a number of organisations who carry out seal rescues. If you find a sick seal, please be prepared to give an exact location. This can be tricky if you are in a remote location. There are many apps that will help you pinpoint your location, including What3Words and GPS OS Grid Reference. If you find a sick seal between Horsey and Winterton, the groynes (barriers built into the sea) all have painted numbers on them so you can use these to pinpoint the location of the seal. 

Seal rescue is coordinated along the Norfolk Coast, with the different organisations talking to each other so that the closest team can go out to the seal. Here are just a few numbers you can call to get in touch with a seal rescue team: 

RSPCA – 0300 1234 999 

Friends of Horsey Seals – 07706 314514 

British Divers Marine Life Rescue – 01825 765546   

Marine and Wildlife Rescue – 01692 650338 

If you find a seal with netting or plastic around a part of its body, please phone one of the Norfolk seal rescue teams. Please be prepared to give an exact location of where it is located. This can be tricky if you are in a remote location. There are many apps that will help you pinpoint your location, including What3Words and GPS OS Grid Reference. If you find a sick seal between Horsey and Winterton, the groynes (barriers built into the sea) all have painted numbers on them so you can use these to pinpoint the location of the seal. 

Seal rescue is coordinated along the Norfolk Coast, with the different organisations talking to each other so that the closest team can go out to the seal. Here are just a few numbers you can call to get in touch with a seal rescue team: 

RSPCA – 0300 1234 999 

Friends of Horsey Seals – 07706 314514 

British Divers Marine Life Rescue – 01825 765546   

Marine and Wildlife Rescue – 01692 650338 

Please note: it is not always possible to rescue an adult seal which is necklaced (has plastic, rope, or netting around its neck) as they may retreat to the sea when approached by a rescue team. The rescue teams will monitor the seals and try their best to rescue them. 

Harbour seal (also known as common seals) pups are born during June and July. They are taken out to sea by the female within a few hours of being born. If you find a pup on its own in the summer, it may be that it has been abandoned, so please phone a seal rescue team for advice. 

Grey seal pups are born in the winter (November through to the end of January). They need to remain on the beach for the first few weeks of their life whilst they feed and moult their non-waterproof white coat. A lone seal pup at this time of year does not necessarily mean it has been abandoned. Females are known to leave their pups for short periods of time. After three weeks, the weaned pups will be left by their mothers, but will stay on the beach on their own whilst they moult. The pupping colonies at Blakeney Point and between Horsey and Winterton are regularly monitored by wardens, so it is probably safe to assume someone will be keeping an eye on them. 

If you find a seal pup outside these colonies that is on its own and appears to be in a vulnerable position or looks sickly, please keep your distance and phone one of the following numbers: 

RSPCA – 0300 1234 999 

Friends of Horsey Seals – 07706 314514 

British Divers Marine Life Rescue – 01825 765546   

Marine and Wildlife Rescue – 01692 650338 

Norfolk Wildlife Trust is unable to deal with sick or injured animals. Please phone the RSPCA Wildlife Centre, East Winch, King's Lynn on 0300 123 0709. Visit the RSPCA website for more information. For advice on sick and injured hedgehogs, you can find additional resources on the Hodmedods website. 

Telephone for help immediately – you can call: 

• British Divers Marine Life Rescue – 01825 765 546 and out of hours 0778 7433 412 

• RSPCA National Hotline – 0300 1234 999 

• Dead animals should be reported to the National Strandings Co-ordinator  – 0800 6520 333 

While help is on the way: 

1. If you can find adequate assistance, gently roll the animal over onto its front and keep the skin wet by dousing it with seawater. Do not pull on its fins or tail and be very careful not to get water down the blowhole. 
2. Keep dogs and crowds away. It’s important to avoid noise and sudden movements to reduce stress. 
3. Do not attempt to drag the animal. 
4. Be very careful of the teeth and tail – these are large, powerful animals. 

Marine animals can carry diseases which are transferable to humans, and they can cause injury: 

• Approach carefully and if in doubt wait for help. 
• Do not attempt to move heavy animals without adequate assistance. 
• Always wash your hands thoroughly after contact. 
• Children are at particular risk and should be kept well away. 

This information has been taken from a poster written by the Marine Animal Rescue Coalition (MARC) and produced by the UK Strandings in collaboration with BDMLR and WDCS. 

Send your wildlife records to Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service. Details on how to do this can be found on their website.