New animal rescue network launched in North Northants
WREN aims to ease pressure on vets by teaching people how to help animals safely
Last updated 10th Apr 2026
A new Wildlife Rescue and Emergency Network (WREN) has been launched in North Northamptonshire to help reduce pressure on local vets by teaching people how to respond when animals are found injured or distressed.
Developed by Kettering Nature Group with backing from New Gap Charity, WREN acts as a first point of contact for animal welfare concerns, helping people understand when an animal needs professional help and how to respond.
Founder Adam Riley, a trained wildlife rescuer, said vets are often under pressure from cases that could be avoided with better public awareness. “A lot of the things people see and worry about are actually normal animal behaviour,” he said.
“Around 80% of the time, nothing needs to be done, but people don’t realise that.”
Riley said young birds are a common example.
“A fledgling hopping around in the garden can look like it’s in trouble,” he said. “But if it’s fully feathered and it’s the right time of year, that’s normal. Picking it up and moving it can actually do more harm.”
He explained many concerns are shared on social media, where they often go unresolved. “People post saying, ‘I’ve found a baby bird, does anyone know who deals with this?’” he said. “It just gets stuck in a social media loop and nothing ever happens – and sometimes the animal sadly dies.”
WREN aims to prevent this by offering clear advice and coordinating with vets, rescue centres and trained volunteers so animals that genuinely need help get it quickly – while unnecessary cases are filtered out.
“If an animal really does need a vet, people can often take it themselves,” Riley said. “Vets have a duty of care, and sometimes the kindest thing is to end suffering – even though that’s hard to hear.”
Alongside coordination, education is a key part of the network’s work. WREN is running community skills sessions in schools, scout groups and local organisations.
“The point is to educate people before they even pick up the phone,” Riley said. “So they know what’s normal behaviour, what isn’t, and what to do next.”
Sessions include simple explanations of animal behaviour through the seasons, as well as role‑play exercises where young people practise reporting an animal in trouble. Riley said, “We even use models to show how to gently hold a bird if it genuinely needs help,” he said.
“We’re not encouraging people to pick animals up – we’re teaching them how to make the right decision.”
Riley said the long‑term aim is to reduce the number of animals needing rescue in the county. He explained: “It sounds strange, but if we do this properly, WREN should be working towards making itself redundant.
“If people are better informed, fewer animals will be harmed and vets can focus on the cases that really matter.”
WREN is already booked to run sessions with Beavers, Rainbows and community groups across the area.
For more information about WREN and to get involved visit the website
To report an animal in distress in North Northamptonshire, call WREN’s hotline on 0330 043 0081 or contact your local RSPCA branch.