The Wildlife Rescuer

Spring rush!

Hedgehogs will be coming out of hibernation and will be very active. It's always a good idea to leave some food to give them a little bit of help. Although you can buy specialist hedgehog foods, such as Spike's from pet stores, we all have food items around the house that may be suitable.

Please see the list below, courtesy of The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, for the do's and don't's of feeding your visiting hedgehogs:

Do feed:

  • Fresh, clean water 
  • Tinned meat-based dog or cat food - chicken, turkey, lamb or beef flavour only mixed with non-sweetened cereal such as weetabix
  • Dried meat-based cat biscuits (but not fish flavoured!)

    & as a treat....
  • Sultanas
  • Small pieces of fruit
  • Cooked potato
  • Plain biscuits
  • Light fruitcake
  • Cooked chicken
  • Raw mince
  • Goats milk can be fed to orphans, however hand rearing should be left to professional wildlife rescuers

Don't feed:

  • Bread - bread has no nutritional value for hedgehogs
  • Cow's milk - hedgehogs cannot digest lactose, therefore this could kill!
  • Pork
  • Fish-based cat or dog food

If possible, food should be placed on a low-sided saucer and the water in a non-tip dish. If possible, food should be placed in a small makeshift tunnel to stop cats getting to it.

Information

Orphans

If you find a young bird, do not assume it has been orphaned & pick it up. Most birds, when they first leave the nest, cannot fly well and therefore spend a lot of time on the ground or on branches, but are still fed by their parents.

They should be left alone unless they are in immediate danger e.g. near a road or if you or a neighbour has a cat

Fawns are left alone sometimes for many hours, while the mum goes off to feed. Do not go near them.

Fox cubs which appear to be abandoned are usually fine. Please seek advice from a wildlife specialist before approaching.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF WHAT TO DO, PLEASE CONTACT ME ON 07527 055 332 OR YOUR LOCAL WILDLIFE CENTRE (SEE THE LINKS PAGE FOR DETAILS OF OTHER WILDLIFE SERVICES)

 

Does it need help?

Please take the time to read the simple flowchart below to decide whether a casualty, indeed, needs help. Obviously this is a very general, simple guide and will not always be right. Trust your instinct and call me on 07527 055 332 if you think you have found a wild animal in need of attention