If You See a Hedgehog Durung the Day it Needs Help.

So it's true. Never leave a hedgehog to it's own devices if it is out and about during the day. Chances are it is very ill. We had an exciting rescue on our hands last year, knowing what to do after an incident at the same time last year. Just arriving at Sainsbury's on Friday, I got a call from my mum to tell me my dad had just caught a hedgehog in the road. Madhouse Hedgehog Rescue Services went into action and before you know it the little lady was chez nous in a large sided box, in the warm conservatory with water and dog food - always meat in jelly, NO FISH OR GRAVY OR BREAD OR MILK. Poor girl had diarrhoea and anyway, we wanted to check her over so we called https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oggles-Hedgehog-Rescue-Rehabilitation-Centre/202287366468952?fref=ts who came out within the hour and took her away for tests. It seems that Percy, as she is now known, has lungworm, which is very serious, but can be treated, so we're crossing our fingers. If she survives, we'll over-winter her here at home as she is way too small to go out alone for hibernation. So what to do with a daytime hedgehog (or a small night time one at this stage of the year):

1. catch it with a blanket or towel and snuggle it up in a high sided box with a towel, blanket, newspaper crunched up and even a gently warm water bottle.
2. Give it a bowl of water and some dog or cat meat - but it must be meat in jelly.
3. Call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society who will direct you to a local carer who can administer antibiotics, saline drips and the like.

If they weigh less than 600g they are also unlikely to survive the hibernation either, so please look out for them!

Unusual blog, but food will come later. This is important. Fingers crossed for Percy x