Hedgehog Rescue and Information

HedgehogRescue · #1 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 12:20 PM

I'm still in the process of building the site so if you get to a page that's gone a bit wonky, check back as I'm probably working on it.

Mods: Linkback to this site is on the links page.

Hedgehog Bottom

valleyforge · #2 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 01:52 PM

That's a great website with lots of really useful, clear and concise information ... I especially like the section of hedgehog sounds.

A slightly belated welcome to WAB from me ... and a warm welcome to the ranks of the WAB hedgehog appreciators.

HedgehogRescue · #3 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 01:58 PM

Thank you. I put the sounds page on there as we get loads of people seriously worried for no reason. It just seemed to make sense to stick some sound files on there so they can listen and decide if there's a problem or not.

I'm adding as much info as I can when I think of it so if you come up with anything, let me know.

mbaldw · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-2010, 07:24 AM

That's an excellent website HedgehogRescue (clean design and packed full of info), nicely done. I'll link to it from mine when I get home this evening.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers,
Marc.

HedgehogRescue · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2010, 12:32 PM

Thanks Marc. I'll sort out a reciprocal at the weekend if not before.

mbaldw · #6 (**permalink**) 17-05-2010, 07:27 AM

Cool, thanks HedgehogRescue.

Cheers,
Marc.

snowdrop · #7 (**permalink**) 26-05-2010, 06:37 PM

What an interesting site......thanks.

Saw my first live hedgehog curled into a ball on my doorstep last monday night, 2.30am. After a few silent minutes out popped the cutest face.

He/she looked straight at me before waddling off. Brilliant!
Could it have been one of this years youngsters I wonder as the dead one I came across some years ago was much bigger.

HedgehogRescue · #8 (**permalink**) 27-05-2010, 10:25 AM

This year's babies would be very small indeed. I have a mum and babe in care at the moment and I would guess the little one weighs about 10g and isn't much bigger than my thumb. The photo below gives you an idea of the size. Anything like this should still be with mum and shouldn't be disturbed, touched, looked at etc unless there is very good reason to do so. Mum will kill tiny ones if she thinks it's not safe.

You may have seen a late juvenile from last year or possibly one that has just come out of hibernation. If they're around and you like them please put out a shallow dish of water every day and if you can also put out some food for them it would help the underweight guys no end.

Coming in to hibernation, from late October onwards they really need to be weighing around 600g to make it through to spring. If you see a tiny one then please grab it and weigh it and get it to a carer or rescue. Anything seen out in the day (not dawn or dusk) needs to be grabbed no matter what unless it's a mum and babies who should not be touched under any circumstances unless there is obvious danger. If worried phone for advice.

snowdrop · #9 (**permalink**) 27-05-2010, 06:41 PM

I guess it must have been about 10ins long Rescue.

Fresh water in a shallow dish now in place, as for food.....is dog meat ok, or what? I've heard bread and milk isn't nourishing enough but I'm a bit hazy about that. What do you recommend?

HedgehogRescue · #10 (**permalink**) 27-05-2010, 10:32 PM

Milk contains lactose. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and although they'll drink it it can kill them. No milk ever. Not even for babies.

Bread, same as for birds. It contains no nutrients whatsoever. It swells up in their stomach and they feel full so don't bother to find nutritious food.

Hedgehogs will do fine on dog or cat meat, cat or small dog biscuits, hog biscuits, crushed (never whole) unsalted peanuts, dried mealworms. When the weather is warm meat can be an issue with flies so if I'm feeding that it always goes out after dark.

The idea isn't to give the hedgehog all its food requirements. You are giving it a supplement to its natural food which may be in short supply so its not unusual to see a hog digging like crazy for an earthworm right next to the bowl of food you've put out.

About 10 inches long will be an adult or a last year juvenile. As long as they're not out in the day, look round when curled not pear shaped and aren't wobbling or dragging legs then they're probably OK.

If you want more info than you ever thought you needed, check out my web site pages on dangers and what needs rescuing and what doesn't. Hogs have more problems that any of our wildlife so it helps if you know what to look out for.

Rescue or Leave Alone and Dangers in particular but there is feeding info etc on there as well.