Help for Hedgehogs

Hello!

This is a busy time of year for us here at the hospital and I'd like to take a moment to share some interesting facts about one of our most common patients and one of Britains most interesting mammals (at least in my opinion). The hedgehog is a fantastic little creature and though we see very little of it, it has a huge (and often under-appreciated) impact in our gardens. They are a joy to see - ambling along the garden late at night, ridding your vegetable patch of slugs and pests.

The sad fact of the matter though, is that we are losing them. A report published by the BTO (British Trust of Ornithology) in 2011 shows that our hedgehog population has declined by at least a quarter in the last decade alone.

So why are we losing them? - Nobody seems sure, however there are several theories. Intensive agriculture and the increased use of pesticides reduce the amount of food available to hedgehogs. Neater gardens, enclosed gardens, more buildings and roads reduce suitable hedgehog habitats. Hedgehogs have very few natural predators - what with their nearly inpenetrable spines, however these are no match for car wheels.


At The Hospital
At the hospital we receive many orphaned, juvenile and underweight hedgehogs, especially at this time of year. Nests are often disturbed by domestic pets or unknowing gardeners and juveniles become underweight or dehydrated easily.

You've Found a Baby Hedgehog...
If it is in a nest - leave it alone. Mothers will leave their babies for long periods to feed. If the baby is in the open, injured or you have reason to believe the mother will not come back place the hedgehog in a box (with a towel) and keep it in a warm quiet place. At this point call the SSPCA or your local wildlife rehabilitator. Never attempt to rear baby hedgehogs. It is an intensly difficult and time consuming job, and should only be attempted by those with experience.

Less than 24 hours old - their spines come through within the first few hours.

Feeding is time consuming, especially with litters of 5/6. Babies need to be toileted before and after every feed!

Their eyes don't open until they are around 2-3 weeks old.

You've found a young hedgehog...

Only pick it up if it is injured, appears wobbly or lethargic or is out during the day. Again, place it in a box, keep it warm and quiet and call the SSPCA or your local wildlife rehab. Juvenile hedgehogs often over winter in wildlife hospitals as a hedgehog under 600g stands little chance of hibernating successfully.

Useful Links:
www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk - Good general information as well as things you can do to help your local hedgehogs.
www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/hedgehogs.html - Information on when (and when not) to help a hedgehog.