Hedgehogs

[ritab]

One of mine (I don't know which) caught a hedgehog last night. I managed to persuade her to drop it and could see it was alive but bleeding. After about 15 mins they were less interested in it and I managed to get them inside and moved the hedgehog under some bushes.

I felt a bit callous but it was nearly 11.30pm and I know the RSPCA locally aren't very interested in them so I hope it has managed to survive. I've checked round and about under the bushes where I left it but there was no sign this morning.

My instinct is that it was Lena who caught it as Gizzi has just barked if she found one before Lena moved in. Can I do anything to help hedgehogs but protect them from my hounds at the same time.

You may think it weird that I don't know which one had it in their mouth but it was dark and they are both black and about the same size.

Any suggestions?

[ritab]

Good news for the hedgehog - I just found it walking about the lawn so I've boxed it up and a local hedgehog rescue are coming to collect it in about an hour. Thank goodness for that. Obviously must be a tough un!

[Carol 47]

If ever this happens again ,or, if you ever see one in the day ( even if its walking around) just put it in a box and get in touch with a local hedgehog rescue , who will " Always" come and pick it up, as Bless Them, they are now on the endangered list, and need all the help they can get to now survive . So hope this little one makes it

Carol x

[ritab]

Prickly Ball Lodge Hedgehog Rescue said it's a nasty wound, but thought it would heal. It's a young one - about 10 weeks she thought.

We did once phone the RSPCA when we found a poorly one but they didn't suggest a local hospital - just said they would have to euthanase it!!! So I'm glad I've found a rescue not too far from us. Hedgehogs are regularly in our garden as there is lots of cover, and lots of slugs. (Ugh!)

I think I'll have to muzzle Lena when they go out in the garden after dark as I wouldn't want any others to meet the same fate.

[vickyb]

Muzzling's a good idea, which sort do you use? Maddie has managed to pick a dead one up through a breezy muzzle  not sure how much harm she could have done if it was alive but if it had been in the garden rather than out on the field she would've run in with it I'm sure

[fortis]

Peter brought three into the house last summer soon after he arrived. The first one sadly perished, but the other two were still alive so we put them in the front of the house out of Peter's reach, and they had both disappeared by morning. I had no idea there were local hedgehog rescues, the only one I'd ever heard of was Tiggywinkles, which isn't near us. I will do some research and find out, in case it ever happens again.

[ritab]

I mainly use the standard box muzzles although I have 2 of the Breezy type. I used to use the box muzzle to stop her eating wood pigeon s**t and rabbit droppings but it doesn't stop her altogether, just slows her down a bit.

I Googled "hedgehog rescue Derbyshire" and it brought one up near to me so that was good. I'd already checked and then saw the aforementioned hedgehog walking down the garden towards the house. So I put it in a box so I didn't lose it in the bushes again and promptly called the rescue.

None of our other dogs have done anything much other than bark at them so it was quite upsetting to see the injury. Anyway it's muzzle on for Lena after dark now (I don't think it was Gizzi on reflection).

[Carol 47]

Its definitely worth finding a rescue local , as it does seem like there is a lot of young ones around at the moment,plus , if they are seen in the day they will always need to be picked up,and a rescue phoned. I have over wintered for a rescue local to me, which is run by the most loveliest lady called Joan, and the rescue is the," West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue" ,and, she has a web page, so, you could get any information needed from there. These little souls need all the help they can get, as there is talk that not too many years from now, they will be extinct , which, would be a total tragedy .

Carol x

[wings]

Just out of interest, why do they need to go to a rescue if you see them in your garden? Are they unable to survive in gardens?

[ritab]

I think Carol 47 said if they are out during the day. I've heard them in the bushes during the day, but they aren't normally in the open. I'm sure Carol will elaborate when she reads this.

[Carol 47]

They can survive in a garden if they are of a reasonable size, but, what Joan is getting in are babies ( west midlands hedgehog rescue ) , who cant survive on their own without the mum, so if they are small and without mum , they need to be collected and a phone call made to a rescue . Also, , If any are seen out in the day , what ever the size , they need to be picked up, and, again a rescue contacted , as without a shadow of doubt, there would definitely be something wrong. If in doubt over anything concerning hedgehogs , Joan can be contacted on 01922419532 or 07837409533, and she will advise you, as to what to do , ok

Carol x

[wings]

Thanks for the explanation, Carol!

[Ted]

Jagger use to carry without harming them in any way if he heard one in the bushes out to the middle of the lawn as if to say there you are safe now. One day he made a run down a neighbours front path only to find it was a stone hedgehog much to his disgust.

[jodav]

I didn't realise about hedgehogs being seen out in the day so that's good to know. We have a hedgehog hospital very close to us run by Angela Squires, a knowledgeable lady who has been running the hospital for years. We have most definitely seen a decline in hedgehogs in our garden at night - Russ says he thinks he has seen one this year. Paddy has a nose for them but that's all - he's kept well away if we spot one on the night walk.
Jo

[dizzytrane]

The numbers of hedgehogs are declining by 30,000 a year and in 2025 they will be extinct. I did a short film for the West Midlands Hodgehog Rescue. Do go on to their website it is full of information and the lady who runs it saved 500 hedgehogs last year! So if you see a hog 'sun bathing' it is probably ill or in distress.