Surprisingly there may still be a few hedgehogs around this
month especially where people put out food regularly. This extra food allows the smaller hedgehogs
to decide when they are ready to hibernate rather than be forced into a
hibernation because of lack of food. However,
some of the smaller hedgehogs will not have sufficient fat stored to allow them
to even contemplate hibernation and the extra food is a real-life saver for
them.
Do take care when tidying the garden, piles of leaves and
compost heaps may well be providing sanctuary for hibernating hedgehogs. Some hedgehogs hibernate in pampas grass so
burning the grass to remove the dead leaves can be very dangerous for them,
indeed any burning in the garden should be undertaken with caution.
If you should find a hedgehog out in the day, particularly
if it is wobbling or has fallen asleep in the open, this is some basic first
aid for it. It needs to go into a
high-sided box, use a piece of towel or similar to pick it up without getting
prickled and bring the box indoors. Cover a hot water bottle with a towel (use warm/hot water so as not to
scald the hedgehog but to provide a nice gentle heat) and place the hedgehog on
this leaving the cloth you that you used to pick it up covering it. It can have some meat-based dog or cat food
and a dish of water. Don’t forget to
keep changing the water in the bottle as if allowed to go cold it will do more
harm than good. If you don’t have a hot
water bottle use a plastic milk carton or drinks bottle and loosely wrap a
towel around the hedgehog and bottle to keep them together, remember this will
lose heat more quickly than a hot water bottle so keep changing the water or
swapping the bottles. Make sure the water isn’t hot enough to damage a plastic
bottle, but warm enough to offer some heat for the hedgehog.
Where to find help
If you are concerned about any hedgehogs you should contact
the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, they can give general advice and
perhaps details of a local hedgehog rehabilitator that you can contact. Contact them on 01584 890801 or for general advice
visit their website (follow link above).
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