Station Road, Beckford, Nr Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 7AN Tel: 01386 882288 Email: info@valewildlife.org.uk Registered Charity No: 702888

CONTACT US ON 01386 882288 FOR ADVICE IF YOU FIND A SICK,

INJURED OR ORPHANED HEDGEHOG

Probably the most easily recognisable of Britain's wild mammals,
hedgehog numbers are unfortunately in decline.
Despite this, the hedgehog is still the most common mammal admitted to Vale Wildlife
and it is also the species that seems to suffer from just about every infection going!

Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures and if
you find one out in the daytime it usually indicates a problem. In these cases dehydration is a big risk and can quickly kill
an animal so it is important to get advice
from your nearest wildlife centre as soon
as possible.
Before doing this, put the hedgehog into
a high-sided box with a towel in the bottom and some meaty cat or dog food and water.
It is likely that the hedgehog will disappear if you leave it in the garden while you make
your phone call.

Every autumn hedgehogs seem to suffer from a massive increase in lungworm problems.

This year is just the same, most of the hedgehogs coming in to us have a heavy burden
& need treatment. Our treatment regime is working brilliantly, but people need to look
out for underweight juveniles out in the day.

Hedgehogs go into hibernation when the weather is very cold although they do
wake and forage for food if we have
milder spells.
In order to survive the winter, hedgehogs need to weigh at least 600gms by the
late autumn.
Any that have not reached this weight will need to be taken in and looked after until they have gained sufficient fat reserves.
The best food to give to a hedgehog is a good quality, meaty cat or dog food and
cat complete biscuits.
Fresh water should always be available.
The old 'bread and milk' advice is now
known to be extremely harmful to hedgehogs.
Cows milk can even be fatal to them
as they cannot digest the high lactose
(a natural sugar) found in it.

here.