ManxSCPA has shared some advice to people who may come across junior hedgehogs in the coming week.s
The animals are now old enough to be away from home but could be too small to hibernate just yet.
The charity said that the rather crappy summer we’ve had (my words not theirs) “may well have had an additional impact on their health and hardiness”.
It said: “Advising on whether to leave these young hedgehogs out in the wild, and feeding them if they visit the same place every evening, or rescuing them and over-wintering them indoors, is complex.
“There are many factors to consider: if they are left outside they will be vulnerable to health issues, especially respiratory ones, and they may not be able to consume enough calories to put on weight; but if they are brought inside the stress of captivity may well cause suffering.”
Helping?
The MSPCA said that if we have a good bit of weather, the juvenile hedgehogs can be left alone unless it is obviously injured or unwell.
A sick hedgehog may appear to be wobbly, have slimy poo, and could start to appear during the day.
The charity added: “Hedgehogs are nocturnal and in the autumn and winter months if they are seen out in day light hours, either active or curled up, they probably need to be rescued (note: in the summer months a female hedgehog can be seen out in the daytime without this being a cause for concern because she will be gathering nesting materials or finding food for her litter of babies).
“From the end of October hedgehogs weighing under 450g should be rescued. However, if a hedgehog is close to that weight and in good condition, providing some supplementary food may be all the help it needs if it’s a regular visitor.”
How?
Place the hedgehog in a high sided box and provide a folded towel of fleece for it to hide under, take it indoors and provide a heat source at one end of the box, so that the hedgehog can move away from the heat once it’s warmed up.
The MSPCA said: “Put the box somewhere quiet and offer the hedgehog meaty (not fishy) dog or cat food and fresh water (not milk). This will keep the hedgehog stable until you can assess its needs: if it is clearly injured then it will need to go to a veterinary surgery for treatment that will be provided free of charge; but if it is simply lethargic and off its food, please call the ManxSPCA and arrange to bring it in to us for rehabilitation.”
General Advice
Throughout the winter, if you accidentally wake up a hedgehog, leave it alone to wake up naturally and leave a space for it to find a new spot.
You can also leave piles of leaves around for it to nestle in, providing food and water nearby, until it’s no longer taken, would be helpful.
Find out more here.
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