Hedgehog Rescue; Don’t Forget Bonfire Night

I was glad to finish this week’s work on time yesterday, so I decided to have a little while working outside in the Smallest Smallholding. I let BunBuns loose, chickens were enjoying the sun, Bobbin was hopping about and cats were dotted around the perimeter, surverying all before them.

And then I was joined by another little visitor. A small, rather sorry looking hedgehog was scrabbling across our lawn. I scooped him (or her) up and took him inside for something to eat and a drink. Meanwhile, Rich prepared an animal carrier with some newspaper, leaves and straw. He’s inside now as I speak, having started feasting on some chicken flavour catfood biscuits and catfood (no jelly), with access to water. I’m a bit concerned though because he’s making some very loud grinding noises with his teeth; I’m wondering whether this is the problem why he’s so small and I suspect, a bit dehydrated.

We’re waiting on a call from a local wildlife hospital so we can take him in. At this time of year they start filling up because the Autumn Orphans (second litter of hoglets born in Autumn) aren’t able to find enough food to eat. Especially since we’ve been having this cold weather, I imagine all the juicy worms, beetles and other insects are thin on the ground.

I’ve mentioned this before in my blog, but I’ll say it again. If you ever see a hedgehog out in the day, it’s in trouble. It doesn’t matter how big or small it looks, how fast it’s moving or whether it doesn’t appear to have any injuries. They’re nocturnal animals any only a problem would keep them out during the day. Get them inside in a secure carrier with access to water and, if possible, chicken flavoured cat biscuits or supermeat-type catfood. Wrap up a hot water bottle in a towel and put in the carrier, making sure that they can get away from it if they get too hot. Then ring your local wildlife hospital (they tend to have much more experience than vets, in my opinion) and get them seen to.

It’s also a timely reminder to take extra precautions around this time of year where hedgehogs are concerned. With Bonfire Night just around the corner, taking a few precautions can make all the difference. Don’t build your bonfire until it’s absolutely necesary, this way hedgehogs won’t mistake it for a nice dry, windproof nesting site until it’s too late.  Ideally build it just before you set light to it, that way there can be no fatal mistakes. Also take care when raking up mounds of leaves and dead matter from the summer. There might just be a hedgehog sleeping in there!

If you’re like me, you’re a bit untidy anyway, but leaving a few leaves and dry matter dotted about the place means that the hedgehogs have enough material to build a rainproof, windproof nest to hibernate over winter in. They’ll probably not start hibernating until the end of November and even into December, but they have to weigh at the very least 650-850g in over to have enough fat reserves to get through the cold winter months. Why not try leaving out a few cat biscuits and some water for them over the next few weeks? You could also help by providing dry shelters, either in the form of special hedgehog hibernation houses or some wood and leaves piled up down the side of the shed.

For now I’m waiting to hear back from the wildlife hospital. I’m hoping they have room at the Inn, otherwise I’ll be ringing around and possibly having to drive over to Tiggywinkles.