Help the hedgehogs in the heatwave

Wednesday 11 July 2018

The GSPCA is currently dealing with a number of sick hedgehogs and is reminding people to think about our prickly friends in the hot weather.

It is only 11 July and the GSPCA has already helped 32 hedgehogs since the start of the month from dehydrated baby hedgehogs to those covered in fly eggs and maggots.

Two baby hoglets were found this weekend dehydrated and close to death, they were named Minnie and Britany.

Britany was found very weak on Queens Road on Sunday and Minnie was found on Rohais de Haut so flat she could hardly move. The team at the shelter have given them around the clock care and specialist milk and both are now doing well.

Pictured: Britany the hedgehog

It is important that wildlife has access to fresh water in hot weather, especially hedgehogs and the GSPCA is urging people to pop a shallow bowl out to help our thirsty spiky friends. They have reiterated that it is important to put water out and NOT milk as the wrong milk can make hedgehogs unwell.

Food sources that can also help hedgehogs in this weather is Spikes tinned or trayed hedgehog food which is on sale at the GSPCA and other local pet stores or tinned cat food, but NOT those containing fish. Tinned wet food helps rehydrate hedgehogs with the moisture content while giving them the nutrients they require.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said: "We have had a number of hedgehogs found with injuries from strimmers, lawn mowers and hedge cutters and it is important to help hedgehogs by checking the areas you are cutting before you start."

Pictured: Left to right schoolboys Lewis Withers and Oliver Craig viewing a hedgehog injured by a strimmer

"For those hedgehogs in gardens that are not so lucky, they often find their cuts quickly covered in the warm weather with flies laying their eggs which hatch into maggots."

If you find any sick or injured hedgehogs then they will need the help of the GSPCA. The easiest way to pick up a prickly hedgehog is by covering them with a towel, jumper or coat so you don’t get spiked and then placing them into a box or container with air holes.

The shelter currently has 107 hedgehogs in its care with foster carers hand rearing the hoglets and busy caring for many others that are already sick or injured with more coming in every day and night.

Mr Byrne continued: "It is important if you see a hedgehog out during the day to give us a call for advice as it may well need help as they are rarely awake foraging during daylight hours, although mothers occasionally can be seen in the day trying to eat extra to help care for their young.

"With over 550 hedgehogs through the doors last year and 179 through the doors already this year we want to thank all those that have found hedgehogs in need and rescued them and also to those that help hedgehogs by putting out fresh food, water and even hedgehog houses as well as keeping wild areas for them to live and use."

The GSPCA Manager also said; “the last few weeks we have been exceptionally busy with baby birds and very dehydrated hedgehogs and many found with injuries from gardening tools.

“All of the GSPCA team are appealing to people to think about pets and wildlife during this exceptionally warm weather. We have seen so many hedgehogs being cut by garden tools and covered by maggots, babies weak from dehydration and many over burdened in ticks and fleas.

“We are now into the very busy hedgehog period that we see each year as many babies are born and many are injured by gardening. From putting out fresh water for hedgehogs to wet food like Spikes or tinned cat food, but not fish, can also really help. There are many other great snacks from meal worms to nuts but with the warm weather food with moisture content is much better for them.”

The GSPCA in St Andrews is manned 24/7 and if you see a wild animal injured or sick please call 257261 or check out these helpful web pages - gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice