Hedgehogs – What Can You Do to Help?
The hedgehog is classified as ‘Vulnerable to extinction’ on Great Britain’s red list for mammals due to the sharp rate of its decline. Therefore we must do all that we can to help these much loved creatures.
So what can I do?
Provide feeding stations in your garden. They can be fed on cat/dog biscuits or wet food (just make sure that it is meaty not fishy). Hedgehogs must NEVER be given milk or any other kind of dairy product as they are lactose intolerant and it can be potentially life threatening for them. Dried meal worms can cause metabolic bone disease and should therefore not be given. Hedgehog specific diets are also available.
* Provide shelter for them. Hedgehog houses are available to buy, but look out for ones with bases as this keeps the damp out. Shrubbery areas in the garden will also be used by hedgehogs. It is important to check these areas before doing any gardening. Gardening related injuries are very common.
Keep dogs away. If you know that you have hedgehogs in your garden/area, when letting them out at night make sure to go out with them.
When do you need to get involved?
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and if they are found out during the day ‘sunbathing’ this will be because there is a problem.
Hedgehogs that need help are ones that:
* Are out during the day
* Being bothered by birds
* Surrounded by flies and/or fly eggs on them
* Wobbly when they walk
* Circling
* Any obvious injuries
If you find a hedgehog that appears to have one of these things, put them into a high sided box, some water and if they are cold pop a covered hot water bottle in with them.
Contact a rescue or your vets asap. Hedgehogs are prey animals therefore they only usually show that there is a problem when it could be too late. Getting them help as soon as you can will increase their chances of survival.
Digby’s Hedgehog rescue – Providing rehabilitation to poorly and injured hedgehogs