Bubble Boy Is Back Home

On 2nd December 2012 one of our carers (Di and her husband Rob) received a call from a friend. She had seen a small hedgehog out during the day. After a short conversation said hedgehog was caught and came to stay with us. He weighed just 432 grams, so was not heavy enough to survive the winter. However on inspection it was noticed he was wonky (he was called wonky hog for a few hours). So off to the vets he went and it was discovered by our fab vet Helen (A120 Medivets) that this poor chap has a small hole in one of his lungs.

Showing the build up of air under his skin

Each time he was taking a breathe in a little air was escaping into the body cavity. So she worked her magic and syringed off the build up of air. He was put onto a course of anti-biotics and the process of drawing off the air was repeated a couple more times.

The air being syringed off by Helen

Soon Bubble Boy (as he was re-nick named) was fully recovered and had managed to reach the magic 600 grams. So he was picked up by Charlotte (another of our wonderful carers) and spent the winter hibernating in her garage.

Bubble Boy finally woke a few days ago and today (17th April 2013) he was released back to the garden he came from.

Back in 'his' garden

Home sweet home

Now because he'll never say thank you, I'd like to thank Aasta for finding this little chap, Di for picking him up and dropping him off, Helen for providing her veterinary skills and Charlotte for looking after him over the winter. A team effort that paid off!     

    

Hedgehogs in May - by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society

By now all the hedgehogs should be up and about after their long hibernation and their thoughts will be turning to procreation.

If you see a hedgehog in your garden that is visiting regularly then it is more likely to be a female.  Females tend to stay fairly local and have a small area in which they forage.  However the males will wander over a large area in the search for receptive females.

If you are thinking of demolishing your garden shed then do it sooner rather than later.  Around this time of year we get lots of calls starting “I have just been knocking down my old shed and …..”  Yes, we know you have found a female hedgehog with babies – it happens every year!

Hedgehogs out in the day are usually in trouble. However sometimes a female about to give birth will put some finishing touches to her nest.  She may appear in the daytime and will be carrying leaves and such items to a certain place in the garden, often making repeated visits.  In this case her being out in the day has a definite purpose and she should be left alone.  Count 4 weeks and a few days and this might be when you will start seeing her and her new family foraging together across your lawn.

We are firm believers in prevention being better than cure so try to ‘think hedgehog’ and avoid any activities that may disturb nests or worst still may injure, maim or kill them. The BHPS has a leaflet called ‘Gardening “with” Hedgehogs’.  For this and much more visit the BHPS website. If you find a hedgehog needing help or if you need more advice call the BHPS on 01584 890801 – it is better to be safe than sorry.

P.S. Remember we also have information on this blog - just click on the pages at the top for help and advice. 

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