The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I took a second Hedgehog in a week, to the wonderful people at the Weirfield Wildlife Hospital today. I brought it inside last night, out of the cold- weighing only 420g. 600-650g is the required weight that they need to be, to have a good chance of survival during hibernation and should be doing so already. The hog taken in last Sunday was very young and weighed little more than 200g. It was found in daylight hours (always an indication that something is extremely wrong). SK939658

I imagine that I am likely attempting to preach to the converted but I thought that I would write this post regardless, as the information might help someone who cares for these endangered animals and is in a position to rescue a hog but might not be aware of the circumstances. Hogs really should be hibernating now and an underweight hog seen in the coming days and weeks realistically has no chance of a successful future unless overwintered with a suitable carer.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk) writes ~

What to do if you have found or are concerned about a hedgehog.
If you have found a hedgehog you are concerned about please use gardening gloves to collect it up, bring it indoors and put it in a high sided cardboard box with an old towel or fleece in the bottom for the hedgehog to hide under.

Fill a hot water bottle so that when it is wrapped in a towel there is a nice gentle heat coming through and put that in the bottom of the box with the hedgehog, ensuring it has room to get off the bottle and making sure the bottle is kept warm (if allowed to go cold it will do more harm than good). Put the box somewhere quiet.

Offer meaty cat or dog food and fresh water then call us as soon as possible on 01584 890 801 for further advice and the numbers of local contacts.

Lincolnshire rehabilitators –

Weirfield Wildlife Hospital
27 Rookery Lane, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7PX
01522 530428

Hedgehog Care
Post Office, Authorpe, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 8PF
01507 450221

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Ward.

Just thought I would add, that tragically, but probably not surprisingly, given the circumstances, the smaller Hoglet died. The second Hog is making good progress being overwintered and is putting on weight, I hope to be able to release him where he was found, this spring.

Regards,

Ben.