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Steve Backshall and Dr Brian May on Channel 5 Saving Britain’s Hedgehogs
Most of us may only very rarely see this lovely creature, if at all, especially since they are nocturnal animals. I think I last spotted one in the wild about twenty years ago, but do remember a family of hedgehogs in our garden as a child. The little snuffling noises as they trooped around in the leaves searching for insects, were unmistakable, but so wonderful to hear. If you do see a hedgehog in the day, however, it may likely be because it is in trouble. If you see a baby hedgehog by itself, just observe it since the best place is with its mum. You can contact your nearest rescue centre for advice if the mum doesn’t turn up, or if you can see she has been killed. Scoop the little animal up in a towel or with gardening gloves and put in a towel lined box and get it to your nearest animal rescue centre. One problem is that a hedgehog needs 30% of its bodyweight to survive in winter, and a hog born in a second litter in autumn may not have the chance to build up reserves before it gets cold. They do not hibernate all the time during winter, but may get up once every few days to move around – cold is not a problem for full- grown hedgehogs as their metabolism slows down. But you can help by providing nice nesting sites like piles of leaves or sticks in your garden to attract them. Summers are also difficult for the hedgehogs, particularly for the babies, because of lack of water. Fill a large shallow dish with stones so the hogs won’t drown and the water takes longer to evaporate. If you find a dehydrated animal it will be rather more elongated than round, and it will be lethargic. A dehydrated hedgehog won’t eat, and is in danger. Get it to a rescue centre as quickly as possible. If you have seen hedgehogs in your garden you can leave them cat or dog food that doesn’t have fish in it. Don’t give hedgehogs milk as it gives them diarrhea. Hedgehogs in urban areas are increasing, so make sure your garden (and next-door neighbours’) has small 13cm holes in the fences to allow them to move in and out. Hedgehogs can get painful injuries from objects like plastic can holders, cans, netting, rubber bans or football nets. Clear any rubbish you see, and raise nets 20cm from the ground. Brian May might be a legendary guitarist, part of a most famous rock band, and incidentally an astrophysicist, but he recently stated that one of his "greatest joys in life is rehabilitating hedgehogs”. “If I could go to my grave thinking I could make a difference in the way we treat our fellow animals, that would be of vital importance to me,” he has said. His work is an inspiration to us all to treat our valuable wild animals with respect, and to love and enjoy one of the most unusual and humble of them all: the endearing prickly hedgehog. n AmazingGrace is joint project with the Save Me Trust, Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue & supported by Spikes Hedgehog Food & the British Hedgehog Preservation Society 01344 623106 www.gracethehedgehog.co.uk
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If I could go to my grave thinking I could make a difference in the way we treat our fellow animals, that would be of vital importance to me.
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Brian May
British Hedgehog Preservation Society 01584 890 801 Save Me Trust www.save-me.org.uk Tiggywinkles 24 hour emergency helpline 01844 292292
RESCUE AND ANIMAL CARE 29 JUNE – 29 JULY 2019
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