The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Wildlife => Topic started by: ladyK on November 13, 2014, 10:40:55 pm
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We found a small hedgehog tonight, just outside the kitchen door. This is the first hedgehog we have ever seen around our garden in the 2 years here, so I'm thrilled!
Question is, does this hedgehog need help?
I always tend to not intervene and leave well alone, but I've looked at the main hedgehog conservation/rescue websites and they all seem to say to catch a found hedgehog in any case, and get advice first before deciding that he can be released.
He was kind of 'stuck' in a bush and all curled up when we found him after dinner (well, the dog found him). We made him a box with newspaper and straw to bring him in. I weighed him, he is 499gr, not too small but still below the 600gr said to be required for successful hibernation. But then it has been extremely mild so far... so maybe not hibernating yet?
He's in the (unheated) spare room now, with straw, newspaper, a towel, hot water bottle and some cat food. It took some time for him to 'uncurl' but he's livened up now. Not interested in the food, only interested in escaping. Does that mean I should let him go? Obviously checking on him makes him curl up again... so I can't really check if he's injured or full of ticks or something.
I will call the Hedgehog Society in the morning, but just wondered if anybody here had advice or experience to share.
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Can't help but do let us know how you (and the hedgehog) get on.
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Certainly too light to survive hibernation. Get in touch with your local hedgehog rescue and take him/her in. They will have the best facilities for care.
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I just spoke to the Gower Bird Hospital (the Wales contact from the British Hedgehog Society) - they say that hedgehogs would not be hibernating yet in this mild weather, and in fact may not hibernate at all if the temperatures don't drop. She also said the min weight for hibernation is 450gr (which contradicts some of the info out there) so he should be fine. The most reliable sign that something is wrong is to find them out in the day (it was certainly dark last night). He was active all night trying to escape and I'm feeling rather bad now for probably inflicting that confinement on him needlessly.
So I shall put him back out in the garden after dark. Wondering if I can improvise some kind of shelter (though we do have a lot of hedges around the garden perimeter).
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I'm sure he'd appreciate some grub as well especially if it gets cold. Glad he's OK :thumbsup:
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He's been appreciating the cat food when I'm not looking :)
Maybe I'll be putting out some regularly after he goes off tonight, but have to figure out how to cat proof it!
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I am helping a local hedgehog rescue. We slow released hogs in the summer and now have two juveniles that we are overwintering indoors on heat mats. When they came to us a week ago they weighed 385g and 480g and need to stay awake as they are not heavy enough to survive hibernation. They are autumn juveniles. There are apparently LOTS around due to late litters being produced due to the mild autumn. A lot of rescues are now full with many juveniles in their care. Sometimes the hogs hibernate for one, two nights or more and then wake when mild weather returns .... however there isn't enough food now for them to put on the necessary weight. Mine are eating like little pigs.
The accepted 'safe' weight was 600g but I am told that many rescues now believe it is more like 650g. Not sure why they told you it was okay. Seems to go against what I have been told and read about.
You could try putting out some cat meat and lactose free milk (they are lactose intolerant) to help him and brothers and sisters to survive.
They do eventually settle in a box/hutch .... should you see him again and wish to bring him in. You could keep him in a shed or barn in a hutch/ small animal cage.