Hedgehog advice

When should a hedgehog be rescued?

• Hedgehogs never ‘sunbathe’; they are nocturnal mammals and only come out at night. If you see a hedgehog out in the day it will further support please call your local rescue for more advice.
• A wobbly hedgehog out in the day could be dehydrated and need rescuing as soon as possible.
• It is covered in flies. It is likely to be very poorly.
• Laboured breathing could be a symptom of illness or injury, rescue as soon as possible.
• A hedgehog with an injury; broken bone, open wounds or missing appendages, needs rescuing immediately and should be taken to your closest vet for Wildlife First Aid.
• A hedgehog covered in tiny white flakes in warmer months likely has fly strike. This is caused by flies laying their eggs on a sick animal. They need to go to a rescue centre or vet as soon as possible.
• It is in immediate danger. In some cases the hedgehog can be moved to safety and left alone, but always call a wildlife rescue first before leaving the hedgehog.

Should you find a hedgehog in need of help, please call us on 01793 640136 option 1 for guidance. To find your closest wildlife rescue centre, visit www.helpwildlife.co.uk.

Exceptions:

There are few exceptions to seeing a hedgehog out in the daytime. Around late April-August you may see a female hedgehog out in the daytime collecting material for nest building, or collecting food for her young. She will be walking with purpose and will not be out for long.

During hibernation, hedgehogs may wake for short periods to drink or eat. If they do not return to their nest after drinking or eating, they may need rescuing.

A healthy hedgehog should appear active, well rounded, with healthy eyes and skin. Most of a hedgehog's time is spent actively foraging for food, a hedgehog can cover up to eight good sized gardens in one evening!

NEVER ATTEMPT TO LOOK AFTER A HEDGEHOG YOURSELF. THEY ARE VERY COMPLEX ANIMALS AND REQUIRE SPECIALIST CARE.

What to do if you find a dead hedgehog

If you find a dead hedgehog, please report it to the Garden Wildlife Health project.

Safe Rescue

Should you need to pick up a hedgehog, wear a pair of gardening gloves or use an old towel to protect your hands.

• Gently scoop the hedgehog up and place them in a cardboard box.
• Keep the hedgehog warm by placing a small towel or torn up newspaper over the hedgehog. Avoid using dusty material in the box, such as sawdust.
• Do not feed the hedgehog food unless advised, offer water only in a shallow dish.
• Take them to your closest wildlife rescue centre or vet for treatment.

Just like any wild animal, hedgehogs will get very stressed when picked up. Try and be as quiet and gentle as possible when handling them and place them into a quiet and dark environment.

FAQ’S

Do Hedgehogs Carry Fleas and Ticks?

Hedgehog fleas are host specific. They will not live on your cat, dog or clothes. Do not put flea treatments on hedgehogs visiting or residing in your green spaces.
Ticks are usually seen around the ears, face and bottom. They are grey in colour and vary in size. They are not problematic unless there are lots of them obscuring the face or ears.
Removing ticks and fleas should be left to a professional.


When do hedgehogs hibernate?

There is no set time for hibernation. They will prepare a nest site and hibernate when food is scarce. This could be from late November to January. Some will not hibernate at all, or for short periods, waking up when the weather turns warmer or to move to a new nest site. Hedgehogs should not be disturbed when hibernating.