Hedgehog Do's and Don'ts
Hedgehog – Do’s and Don’ts
Following on from our discovery of a hedgehog nest at the weekend we thought we would just run through a few pointers and things to consider when dealing with hedgehogs and hedgehog nests/young. Rachel and her excellent team Prickleback urchin Rescue near us do such an amazing job. They were so helpful and knowledgeable we wanted to help spread the word and help raise awareness/spread knowledge about what to do if you stumble across a hedgehog nest:
Assess the Situation
Observe from a Distance: The main thing to take away may sound obvious but it is to not disturb hedgehogs at all when possible. First, observe from a distance. Hoglets might just be exploring while its mother is nearby. Or the mother may be away exploring but will shortly return to the nest site.
Check for Signs of Distress
Signs of Illness or Injury: If the hoglet appears to be injured, ill, or weak and underweight, it needs help. Healthy hoglets are usually active and responsive.
Time of Day: If you find the hoglet during the day, it’s unusual as hedgehogs are nocturnal. This could indicate a problem. Again, assess the situation and observe before jumping straight in to assist.
Contact a Wildlife Rescue
Professional Help: Contact a local wildlife rescue centre or the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) for advice and assistance. They have the expertise to provide the necessary care and will be invaluable at offering advice and instruction on how to care for hedgehogs and/or what steps should be taken next. Because very young hoglets cannot regulate their own temperature they need to be placed in incubators. Unfortunately being wrapped in towels or straw in boxes will not always be sufficient for young hoglets. This is where charities and organisations can step in and help.
Handling the Hoglet
Minimal Handling: If you do need to step in and intervene handle the hoglet as little as possible to reduce stress. Use gloves to avoid transferring human scent. Leaving human scent on baby hedgehogs can sometimes be fatal for them. If the mother returns and her babies smell different, they can sometimes go on to kill them or completely abandon them.
By following these steps, you can ensure that the baby hoglet receives the best possible care and has a good chance of survival.
If you want to help any mothers that might be in your local area you can offer a supply of food and shallow water for mum nearby. She will need to keep up her energy levels and keep hydrated to feed her young with her own milk supply. It can be so rewarding to have a nest of hoglets in your garden and as they grow and develop you should see them become more independent and slowly start weaning off their mothers milk supply. We love to see your photos so if you’re lucky enough to have a happy healthy brood of hoglets in your garden send in your photos to us! (maintaining a safe distance of course!)
