9th DECEMBER 2008
Hedgehog Rush
Unfortunately, due to the mild autumn/winter we've had, hedgehogs aren't hibernating and many have bred late, resulting in hoglets all over the country being too small to survive hibernation.
Being a new start-up rescuer, I've not had many calls to anything... but I've had 3 hedgehog calls in a week, 1 of which I had to turn down because I don't have the capacity unless I can move the hogs on to a designated rescue centre straightaway (which is proving difficult because of the amount they too have received!). The purpose of this news item is just to make a plea. If you follow these simple guidelines, you can help your neighbourhood hedgehogs:
1. If you see a hedgehog, regardless of its size, out during the day it needs help - call a specialist immediately. If you have a box and a pair of gloves, you may wish to bring it inside to keep it warm.
2. Hedgehogs will benefit from kind people leaving out food and fresh water at dusk. This can be cat or dog canned food BUT NEVER MILK OR BREAD. Hedgehogs cannot tolerate the lactose in milk and it can kill them. Food and water should be left in saucers or I find the designated hedgehog food bowls from Tesco perfect because they're too heavy for the hog to tip up.
3. If you see a hedgehog staggering (looking drunk), call a specialist immediately as it may be hypothermic. However, if it is big (generally bigger than the palm of your hand) and walking normally, leave it alone. It's not unknown for hedgehogs to wake up during hibernation to feed.
If you need advice please do not hesitate to call: 07527 055 332.
Thank you
2ND JUNE 2008
2nd June... a date that will stay special to me for life... the day I did my very first solo rescue. This wasn't at the request of a member of the public, this was because I was in the right place at the right time.
I was on my way to Beckford the night before my wildlife training when I came across a Blackbird staggering in the middle of a busy main road. I pulled into a bus stop and rushed out to grab it. At first, I thought it was dead as it was now laid on its side, but as I got closer I could see it breathing. I picked it up; it was cold and its beak was open as it breathed heavily - it was suffering from shock. I placed it in a towel-lined small animal carrier box and put it in the passenger footwell of my car, the heater turned up full to keep it warm (to counteract the shock). Fortunately, I was only 10 minutes away from the wildlife hospital. As soon as I got there, the bird was assessed; no physical abnormalities. It was thought that, as it was a fledgling, it had exhausted itself. It was placed in a cage with other similarly-aged blackbirds to recuperate.
I checked on the little love the next day and it was doing very well - yay!