When to Rescue
Found a hedgehog you are concerned about? Check out the below information to help determine whether or not to intervene. We would recommend calling the rescue for advice between 9am and 6pm.
A hedgehogs natural defence is to freeze and if it feels threatened, curl into a ball. This is their natural behaviour and not a cause for concern, they will very rarely run away.
Out in day: as a nocturnal animal any daytime activity is a cause for concern. Contact a rescue as soon as possible. There are exceptions to this particularly during breeding season with adult females - contact a rescue for advice.
Injuries: any signs of blood, limping, or injuries will require immediate assessment by a vet or a rescue.
Flystrike: hedgehogs out during the daytime will often have flystrike, this looks like miniature grains of rice or sawdust and will require immediate treatment by a vet or a rescue.
Entanglements and entrapments: any entangled hedgehog must not be rereleased, even once freed from the netting or litter. They will require a period of monitoring for complications at a vets or a rescue before they can be released. Entrapment cases will need assessment to ensure claws and feet are not damaged, they may also require support with temperature and hydration.
Ticks: a few ticks is quite natural and NOT a cause for concern or a reason to intervene. Hedgehogs with a large number of ticks will require assessment at a vets or rescue.
Weight alone is not a reason for admission. Particularly here in Cornwall there is no need to weigh hedgehogs, our winters and hibernation periods are very short. If you have any concerns about a hedgehog and it does not fall into one of the above categories please contact a rescue for advice before you intervene.
If you find a hedgehog in need of help outside of the rescues opening hours:
Use a pair of gardening gloves or an old towel to scoop the hedgehog up and place it in a high sided box.
Provide a blanket/towel or torn newspaper, the hedgehog will feel much safer if it is covered over.
Fill an empty plastic bottle or milk carton with warm tap water, seal it, and place it in beside the hedgehog to act as a little hot water bottle - it’s important this is only a gentle heat and that the hedgehog can move away from it if it wants to.
Provide a shallow dish or saucer of water.
Call your local vet. You will be transferred to the vets hospital branch or advised of the out of hours procedure.
There is NO CHARGE to a member of the public for taking a wild animal into the vets, they will be able to triage over the phone and if required admit the hedgehog providing stabilisation care and pain relief before getting in touch with their nearest rescue the next day.