Urgent appeal!

[HedgehogRescue]

Please talk to everyone you know, neighbours, family, friends, people down the shops... Get them to put out shallow dishes of water and keep them topped up. All the hedgehogs coming in are in a terrible state. They can't find water, lack of rain means the ground is parched and all their food has gone deep so they can't get at it. If everyone at least put out water, if not dishes of food, then they might have a chance.

I'm getting loads in with major injuries but all of them are severely dehydrated and we're having to put a large number to sleep as they're so badly compromised.

And please tell everyone who will listen not to give hedgehogs milk. It only makes things worse.

[vole-woman]

I'll put it on Twitter.

[HedgehogRescue]

Thank you.

Can I make it clear to everyone that dehydration is serious. It's not just a case of "they're thirsty, give them a drink". Once dehydration sets in the organs start to shut down, 10 % is about as much as any mammal, including us, can take before it's life threatening.

When we get these animals in we are having to give fluids subcutaneously as they need vast amounts to keep them alive. All this could be avoided if there was some water every few gardens that they can rely on being there.

If you have a pond, make sure animals can drink from it without falling in. Keep them topped up. Ornamental ponds need some means for the animal to climb out of the water if it does fall in. Hedgehogs can swim but just like us, they eventually tire and drown.

[vole-woman]

I've posted and it's been passed on by four other people so far, but you need to contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society: https://twitter.com/#!/hedgehogsociety and the Mammal Society https://twitter.com/#!/Mammal_Society and get them to start a twitter campaign immediately.

[vole-woman]

The People's Trust for Endangered Species, too: https://twitter.com/#!/PTES There's nothing like Twitter for disseminating information quickly.

[Kayleigh]

Posted it on FB..too..
I always have water down for the dog but In have not seen a hog here for a while but the dog was rolling in something the other day so who knows..
Hope they survive..

[~T~]

Water is certainly not a problem up here in Glasgow just now with all the rain but I always have fresh water out for the birds and the hog. Watching it the other night I was surprised at just how long it drank for.

[Jennie]

I always have two large dog bowls full of water out for the Badgers, one in the back garden and one round the front, all the birds use them as well. I also make sure there is a damp patch somewhere in the garden for insects, amphibians, etc. to at least freshen up, if not to drink.

[Kreacha]

Going out right now to top mine up!!

[CharlieCreek]

Popping a letter along to the local newspapers is always worth while and will hit many people who are not maybe so wildlife aware.

We write to the local press and have articles printed with good success, with many people following up on our tips and then coming along to see us at the events we attend.