Young hedgehog crossing road, hibernation question

hodeghegwatcher · #1 (**permalink**) 21-11-2010, 06:15 PM

We found a hedgehog trying to cross the road today, it looks a bit older than a baby but not an adult.
We put it in a box and took it home because we have a big garden near a field which would be better than a built up area.
We are not really sure what to do with it, because it’s the hibernating season. We don’t think it’s the right weight for it to survive but we haven’t weighed it so we cant be sure. It is about 5 inches in length
It seems in good condition, although when I picked it up to check he didn’t have any fleas, he didn’t curl up. The spikes are going the right way which is good. When we gave him some food, he seemed to just walk through it rather than eat it.
We have put it in a box with leaves and food and it is asleep at the moment, although im not sure if its already hibernating? It doesn’t seem to be breathing much.
Should we try and get it to hibernate, or stop it from hibernating? The box is inside our unheated shed at the moment, we could put it in a hamster cage though, or in or cellar.
What would be best for it?

CharlieCreek · #2 (**permalink**) 21-11-2010, 06:59 PM

This little hog needs to be weighed to find out how much it does weigh. I don't really like the sound of it not balling when you picked it up or the minimal breathing.

My first advice would be to ring a hedgehog rescuer asap tonight so the little fella can be checked out.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has a list of rescuers at British Hedgehog Preservation Society - Hedgehog Carers. This isnt an extensive list and there are many more that they can give you by phone 01584 890 801, or you can try a google search for hedgehog rescuers in your area.

Worst case scenario if you can''t get hold of anyone tonight then:

Leaves aren't enough.... some old teatowels, handtowels or such like will make it a much more snug little place to be for the time being. The snugger it can be hopefully the less stressed it will be as well.
It also needs ambient warmth, so a cold garage isn't going to help. Is it possible to move it into somewhere warm (not hot), dark and quiet?
Make sure it is in a high sided box, as they are little climbers when they want to be.
Food is good (cat or dog food, wet or dry), however water is very important. But only water not any cows milk as this is not good for them.

With luck this will see it through the night. Then tomorrow if you can't sort someone out tonight it needs to go to a rescuer or a VET to be looked at.

This is a very quick reply as I just wanted to get some information up for you asap. Please feel free to post back for more advice (there are a few hedgehog rescuers on here who will doubltless be on at some points throughout the evening). However first priority tonight should be to try and find a rescuer - getting these little fellas into rescue units asap really does make all the difference.

P.S If you don't have luck finding one, if you want to post just your town/city on here and county I will have a look on our list of rescuers as we have a reasonable list of carers countrywide that we keep in case we get out of area calls.