HEDGEHOG CARE & REHAB - PLYMOUTH PL5

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A SICK OR INJURED HEDGEHOG

 

Immediate action

Immediate action when you find a poorly hedgehog

pick up with an unscented towel. or gardening gloves, or plastic bag and put in a secure box with air holes or a cat box

put an unscented towel under and draped over the body and head of the hedgehog - this will reduce the stress of the hedgehog

 

Maintaining a hedgehog until you can get it to a hedgehog carer or hedgehog friendly vet

Place the hedgehog next to a hot water bottle filled with hand hot water covered with an unfragranced towel (NEVER put the hedgehog on the hot water bottle)  Most poorly hedgehogs are hypothermic and need something warm to snuggle up against.  (You can also use a heat pad or even a lemonade bottle filled with hand hot water, but they will need to be covered by an unscented towel or wrapped in a newspaper ) - always rest your hand on the heat source for 60 seconds to make sure it is warm but not uncomfortably hot. ALWAYS make sure that the hedgehog is free to move to a cool part of the box if it wants to.

Put in a jam jar lid with mashed up dog food - chicken in jelly or cat food and a jam jar lid of fresh tap water or shallow hamster dish or ramekin dish if the hedgehog is able and big enough to feed from one of these.

Put in the warmest room in the house.

 

As soon as the hedgehog is secure and safe phone one of the following numbers for advice and arrange for the hedgehog to go to a recognised hedgehog carer.

 

Hedgehog Care and Rehab - Linda   07585230527  or 01752366951

If  no one answers - immediately phone the following numbers for advice and a list of hedgehog carers in your area  (If for any reason, after phoning these numbers, the hedgehog has not been sorted please try phoning Linda again.

 

British Hedgehog Preservation Society   01584 890801

Secret World   01278 783250

Vale Wildlife Hospital   01386 882288

 

If you cannot get a recognized hedgehog carer to admit the hedgehog then try  the Estover Veterinary Hospital, or your local vet or the RSPCA.