Probably the most easily recognisable of Britain’s wild mammals, hedgehog numbers are unfortunately in decline. It seems that they suffer from just about every infection going!
Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures and if you find one out in the daytime it usually indicates a problem. In these cases dehydration is a big risk and can quickly kill an animal so it is important to get advice from Brackley HogWatch as soon as possible.
Before doing this, put the hedgehog into a high-sided box with a towel in the bottom and some meaty cat or dog food and water. It is likely that the hedgehog will disappear if you leave it in the garden while you make your phone call.
Every autumn hedgehogs seem to suffer from a massive increase in lungworm problems. People need to look out for underweight juveniles out in the day.
Hedgehogs go into hibernation when the weather is very cold although they do wake and forage for food if we have milder spells.
In order to survive the winter, hedgehogs need to weigh at least 600gms by the late autumn. Any that have not reached this weight will need to be taken in and looked after until they have gained sufficient fat reserves.
The best food to give to a hedgehog is a good quality, meaty cat or dog food and cat complete biscuits.
Fresh water should always be available.
The old ‘bread and milk’ advice is now known to be extremely harmful to hedgehogs. Cows milk can even be fatal to them as they cannot digest the high lactose (a natural sugar) found in it.
CALL US ON 07528 119416 / 07976 704415