A family run Charity looking after British Wild Hedgehogs. Based in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Founded in April 2015.
I'VE FOUND A HEDGEHOG IN NEED OF HELP
We rescue wild hedgehogs in need of help from Harpenden (in Hertfordshire) and the surrounding areas including Wheathampstead, Kimpton, and Redbourn.
There are a number of things to look out for when a hedgehog is in trouble. Please read though this page to find out ways to help the hedgehog.
A HEDGEHOG WILL LIKELY NEED HELP IF IT...
...was found out during the day.
...was found out during the winter period, especially if snow or frost.
...is wobbling, limping, or swaying.
...is smaller than a tennis ball in size when curled up.
...has blood on it.
...is lying flat on its side.
...is vomiting.
...is coughing.
...is trapped in netting, a hole, or a pond/swimming pool.
...is underweight during late autumn/winter time (see detailed weight guide).
STEP 1: MAKE THE HEDGEHOG COMFORTABLE
1) HANDLING THE HEDGEHOG
Pick up the hedgehog with gloves on your hands or wrap a towel or some old newspaper around it. Never use your bare hands. It may be easier to scoop the hedgehog up from the underside rather than clamping your hands around it.
2) PLACE THE HEDGEHOG IN A BOX
Put the hedgehog inside a box that has high sides to it as hedgehogs can climb! Ensure the box has air vents in it by poking lots of holes towards the top of the box with a pencil. You can also use a pet carrier if you have one to hand, but we cannot return your carrier (you can however collect it a later date should it not be possible to return on drop off to us).
3) PUT SNUGGLE / NESTING MATERIAL IN BOX
Put a few old towels in the box for the hedgehog to snuggle up into. Towels are ideal but should you not have those to hand ripped up newspapers/straw/hay would be a second option.
4) PROVIDE DIRECT HEAT
Place a hot water bottle under the towels or wrap a towel around a plastic bottle filled with hot water in it. This is especially important if you have an orphaned baby hoglet that is being rescued.
Please skip this step if the hedgehog is bleeding heavily or has obvious heat stroke.
5) PLACE BOX IN A SAFE PLACE
Move the box to a warm place that is quiet but not in direct sunlight. Do not leave the box outside with the hedgehog inside if it is cold or very hot.
You can place a shallow bowl of water in the box and offer the hedgehog some jelly-based dog or cat food. However, if the hedgehog is a baby hoglet (pink skin or has black and white spines over it) then do not do this.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have found baby hoglets (without a mother, or if they have been disturbed) please try not to handle them unless they are in danger. Baby hoglets that are pink skinned will very likely not survive one night on their own. Seek help asap.
STEP 2: GETTING HELP!
We are a rescue centre for wild, European hedgehogs. Please contact us if you find a hedgehog in need of help and are located in the local areas of Harpenden, Kimpton, Wheathampstead, or Redbourn. We can accept hedgehogs from further distances depending on how many patients we have admitted, but they will need to be delivered to us. Never contact us for hedgehog rescues by email, social messages, or any other contact means other than phone as we do not monitor them all the time. We are not open to the general public, and you cannot drop off a hedgehog to us without prior notification. There are a number of reasons for this, but mainly to ensure that we have capacity to help as we are all volunteers.
A) CONTACT US
If you have found a hedgehog that needs help, and you are located close enough to drive to Harpenden in Hertfordshire, please call us on 07999 573513 (10am-6pm). We also try to rescue hedgehogs at the weekends but this is not always possible.
B) CONTACT BHPS
If you are not local to us, or you do not hear back from us within 30mins (if you left an answer phone message), please contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) on 01584 890801.
They can give you advice and also put you in contact with a hedgehog rescue centre local to you, they have a database of 600+ hedgehog rescue centres in the United Kingdom.
C) CONTACT LOCAL VETS
3) If you still can't get help, or the hedgehog has a serious injury such as open wound, lying on its side, or you see blood. Please take the hedgehog directly to a local vet.
OUR VERY BUSY TIMES OF THE YEAR
Updated December 2023
It's always busy from November through December for hedgehog rescues. Mainly for those that are underweight.
We usually receive a huge influx of rescues during this period which takes up most of our time. The weekends are by far the busiest time for calls. During these months we normally have to pull in our rescue coverage areas to ensure we are still able to help those hedgehogs local to us. So, we can only usually rescue very local hedgehogs during that time that are close to or in Harpenden, Wheathampstead, Kimpton, or Redbourn.
If we are unable to pick up the phone, please leave a voice message. However, if you don't hear back from us within 30 mins then please call The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (01584 890801) or click on their logo image below which links to their website. The BHPS have a register of over 600 hedgehog rescue centres in the UK and they will be able to provide you with more rescue numbers. They can also offer you advice for hedgehogs in need of help.
Thank you!
Martin
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