Hedgehogs needing care

• are wounded, often as a result of dog bites, garden implements such as strimmers and mowers, road traffic accidents
• are found lying stretched out (often in the sun), unable to move or roll up
• are sneezing, have runny noses and are coughing
• are covered in ticks, fly strike/ maggots or have heavy flea infestations. Hedgehog fleas are host specific and cannot live on either us or our pets!
• after having been released from entanglement with netting, drains etc
• after having being rescued from water
• after having being disturbed during hibernation
• are seen walking about, dazed, during daylight hours, especially during winter when food is scarce

Baby hedgehogs require special attention since cooling off can be fatal for them. Before removing babies from a nest be sure the mother is not in the vicinity. Mothers often return a few hours later when the coast is clear.