New Page for Vets and Nurses

We have been asked several times recently if we can provide notes for vets and nurses, who are wiling to provide treatment to hedgehogs. So this has prompted us to add a new page just for vets and nurses. If you are a vet or a nurse please feel free to click on, copy and paste into you own document and print off. If you have ever taken a hedgehog to the vets or find you need to please let them know about our new page. Then together we can hopefully return more fit and well hedgehogs back to the wild.

     

Hedgehogs in March

Spring is here and hedgehogs are starting to wake from hibernation. They will be sleepy and very thirsty and will head for the nearest water.  Although good swimmers many die in ponds because there is no way out for them.  By putting some green plastic coated wire netting down into (not across) the pond you can provide a ladder for them to use should they fall in. 

It's not only hedgehogs that are out and about but gardeners as well. Whilst the hedgehog is the gardeners' friend the gardener is not always the hedgehogs' friend. Many of the jobs we do in our gardens can affect and even harm hedgehogs.  So please take care when tidying up, pulling down sheds (a favourite nesting site) and strimming long grass and brambles. 

Hedgehogs are not territorial; they tend to have home patches. A females’ home patch will be just big enough to support her and her hoglets. A males’ patch will be much larger in the breeding season as they wander long distances searching for females. Once the autumn comes their home patches will become smaller.  So if you see a hedgehog on a regular basis in the springtime it is more likely to be a female.  If you are able to leave food out each night then this will encourage any females to stay around and eat your slugs and snails. However males, will have other priorities and will have a nomadic lifestyle at this time of year.

The following are a few suggestions for feeding stations that can keep the food dry and deter cats from stealing the food.  

• Try a paving slab on bricks (leave a gap between 2 of the bricks as an entrance hole)
• A box with a small hole cut into it 
• A large box upside down with a brick propping up one end 
• A rabbit hutch with its door wedged partly open 
• An upside down pet basket 
• An upside down toy box with the hand holds cut away  

As a final suggestion try to get one of those blue plastic mushroom boxes. Cut a 12.5cm x 12.5 cm (5" x 5") hole in one of the short sides so when the box is upside down the hole becomes an entrance.  Put the food at the far end and weigh the box down with a stone. Sometimes a brick needs to be placed 10cm - 12.5cm (4 - 5”) away from the entrance, so if a cat has tried to reach in with a paw the brick should make it more difficult.

Finally do remember hedgehogs are nocturnal and usually only come out in the day when they are in serious trouble.

The above was kindly supplied by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society who can be contacted for help and advice on 01584 890801. 

Let's Talk

Herts Hogline has two aims:

• Rescue sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs and return to the wild whenever possible
• Educate people in all things hoggie

The second is achieved by giving talks to local groups (WI's, Gardening Clubs, Brownies, Rainbows, Cubs etc.). Giving these talks helps raise much needed funds, as a donation is asked for.

Normally I give one talk per month, however recently I gave two in one evening. My first talk was with a Brownie group in Buntingford. The group were very generous, they not only paid a donation but also gave a huge pile of dog and cat food.

The pile of food Buntingford Brownie pack donated

What stars!

The girls were a fantastic audience and asked some really fab questions. As I packed away one of the Brownies gave me a picture she'd drawn. This picture is now in pride of place on the hedgehog shed wall.

The lovely hedgehog drawing I received

Thank you Ella  

The drive to my second talk was an adventure. Narrow, bendy, unlit roads I didn't know. Then my Sat Nav told me I was there, when I clearly wasn't and wildlife darting in front of me. When I finally arrived I was greeted by a lovely group of ladies, who also asked some really great questions. After the talk I was also treated to a yummy brownie cake.

I'd like to thank both groups for the invite, it's much appreciated. I'm hoping they gained an insight into the work we do and now know how they can help support our dwindling hedgehog population.

Note:

If you know a group within a 20-mile radius of Stansted Airport who'd like a hog talk please do pass on our details. They can email for information at help@hertshogline.com 

     

Hedgehog Poetry

I  was recently tidying my book shelves and rediscovered a book a friend had given me last year called Prickly Poems. As you may have guessed from the title it is a collection of hedgehog themed poems. As I flicked through its pages I was reminded of some of my favourite poems. So I've decided to share some of them with you.

I hope you enjoy!

Luv Poem by Benjamin Zephaniah

The Mower by Philip Larkin

In Defence of Hedgehogs by Pam Ayres - why not listen to this poem being read by the poet 

Hedgehog by Paul Muldoon - why not listen to this poem being read by the poet

Hedgehogs in the Garden by Angela Wybrow

There was another poem I wanted to share called Hedgehog by Spike Milligan. However I've been unable to track down a copy online. As it's in copyright I can't share it in full here but if you'd like to read it then why not track down a copy of Prickly Poems (although out of print there are second hand copies available).  

I hope you enjoy these poems and if you have a favourite hoggie themed poem please share the link OR if you've written your own please feel free to share.

The Year That Was 2012

As is normal when a new year dawns you start to think about the previous year. So as a follower of tradition I've decided to share a few highlights with you.

2012 was the first year in almost 20 years that we had to make the very hard decision to close the doors of HQ for two months (July and August). However our work did not stop. We still took calls and provided advice. Our fosterers continued to care for our disabled hedgehogs and carers took on the task of hand rearing a number of very small hoglets.

Sophie's hoglets - all successfully hand reared and released

Although we lost a few hogs we also had some great successes. These not only included the hoglets above but also hogs like Helen who came in very unwell in March. We were not 100% sure she'd make it but to our delight she did. We even have video proof of how well she was doing (taken prior to going into hibernation):

Helen and friend enjoying a feast

We raised money by giving talks, presentations and attending fairs. We also had the pleasure of taking part in the A120 vets open day, which was not only enjoyed by a large gang of bikers (who support Mutts In Distress) but also some four legged friends as well. 

Just a few of the four legged friends who joined the A120 open day

Due to a very strange breeding season last year we were in-undated with very late babies. Thankfully most survived including both sets of entire litters that came in during October. 

Mum with her babies (still suckling) rescued from Harlow 

For the first time ever we set up a wish list. This has meant that our generous supporters kept all the hogs in our care fed for almost the entire month of December. However having just closed our 2012 books we are £250 short of our total running costs for 2012. But compared to other years this is a great result!

Just some of the food donated in December

THANK YOU!

We have already received our first call for 2013 from Medivet in Stanstead Abbots who are looking after a small hoglet. We will be picking him up in the next couple of days once he is given the all-clear by the vet. 

So here's to 2013!