Any Hedgehog experts out there? (Lounged)

[TheePope]

A couple of Hedgehogs have decided to make a home under some ivy and in some dead leaves right next to the patio door in my garden. I know they're nocturnal, but one seems to be quite active for the day time. Don't know whether that's normal.

Shall I just leave them to get on with it or might they need some help?*

Thanks

*How do you help a hedgehog?!

[Michael Palaeologus]

I think that they are fine and are probably active during the day because they feel safe. They are probably forgaging to build up fat for winter (as I do) as they like to hybernate during winter (as I do).

[SteveT]

These might be worth a call if you need more info on your wild and prickly pets.

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Top Document: Hedgehog FAQ [7/7] - Wild Hedgehogs

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Wild Hedgehog Organizations

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There are numerous European hedgehog organizations that strive to help out

hedgehogs, usually thanks only to volunteer help and donations.

One of the first to come into being was the British Hedgehog Preservation

Society (BHPS), run by Major Adrian Cole, information about it was sent to me

courtesy of Bill Corner, Vanessa Purvis, and Seabury Salmon:

I thought I would let you know that here in the UK there exists a

society called ``the British Hedgehog Preservation Society''.

Their address - in case you want some more info! - is:

-- Bill Corner

BHPS

Knowbury House

Knowbury

Ludlow

Shropshire

SY8 3LQ

UK

Tel: 44 1584 890801 or 890287.

Tom Weston sent around the following information about another organization

dedicated to rescuing and helping hedgehogs:

Having looked after hedgehogs for a number of years, Janet Peto founded

Hedgehog Welfare officially in December 1993. It is a small rescue

centre, based in Misterton [u.K.], taking in and caring for sick, injured

and orphaned hedgehogs. No hedgehog is ever turned away.

The aims of Hedgehog Welfare are:

To take in sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs, to care for them and

return them to the wild.

To encourage the finders of hedgehogs to care for them wherever possible

with full assistance from Hedgehog Welfare, including the loan of

equipment (when available) to do so.

To promote public awareness of the hedgehog in the wild (and of

conservation in general) and how everyone can assist.

To run courses which will improve the general knowledge and standards of

care-givers and veterinary surgeons.

If you would like to help or just know more about Hedgehog Welfare, its

work, or its courses, please write:

Janet Peto,

Hedgehog Welfare,

P.O. Box 1003,

Misterton,

Doncaster DN10 4JT

England

Janet has requested that when writing to her, could you possibly include

a stamped return envelope, or at least something to cover the return

cost. This will serve to help ensure the funds that Hedgehog Welfare

has will go to hedgehogs.

Barry Turner (who is the Newsletter Editor/WildAid) contacted me recently with

info on WildAid (formerly the SWRRC):

I help out with the Staffordshire Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Centre [(SWRRC) - now WildAid -- Ed.], an animal Sanctuary at Kingsley

near Cheadle, Staffordshire, England.

Jonathon Hodges, the Curator, takes in large numbers of rescued, sick or

injured hogs and hoglets throughout the year.

WildAid is a U.K. registered charitable organization which looks after sick,

injured, and otherwise endangered wildlife, primarily throughout the British

Isles, as well as now helping other Sanctuaries with advice, practical

assistance and sometimes financial help.

The address for WildAid is:

WildAid

Sprinks - Lane Kingsley - Near Cheadle

Staffordshire

England ST10 2Bx

Telephone: 01538 754784

Fax: 01538 756702

You can also contact them (Barry Turner) via email at:

[email protected]

Another group in the U.K. that looks after hedgehogs is the Cleveland

Hedgehog Preservation Society (CHPS):

The Cleveland Hedgehog Preservation Society is a British group that

cares for injured hedgehogs [that] then are released back into the wild.

-- Donald Martin

Donald also passed along word that the CHPS [11.3] have a web site which

contains an excellent overview of what to do if you encounter a hedgehog

needing assistance, at:

http://www.doned.demon.co.uk/

I have also found information on yet another hedgehog organization in the

U.K., courtesy of a post on the alt.fan.hedgehog [11.3] newsgroup by Liz

Roberts-Morgan:

The Hedgehog Helpline is a registered charity which relies on

sympathetic people to enable it to carry on the invaluable work

that it does to care for hedgehogs.

They produce an interesting booklet describing how to look out for

hedgehogs in your garden or in the countryside.

*Remember that Hedgehogs are wild animals and the object is to help our

prickly friends to survive, the object is always to return him or her to

his natural habitat if kept indoors over the Winter. They must never be

regarded as pets and prevented from having a natural life.*

If you are interested in a free copy of the booklet "All About

Hedgehogs," simply send a stamped addressed envelope, large enough to

contain an A5 sized booklet to:

Hedgehog Helpline

5 Forelandland Road,

Whitchurch

CARDIFF

CF4 7AR

http://www.hedgehg.dircon.co.uk/hedgehogs

If you would care to make a donation also it would be put to a good

cause. Cheques made out to Hedgehog Helpline.

-- Liz Roberts-Morgan

Almost last, and certainly far from least (how can anything hedgehog related

be least?) is ``St. Tiggywinkle's'' Hospital. The following information on

it was sent along by Willard B. ``Skip'' Nelson, DVM, with the phone number

coming from LeAnne and Adrian:

I see that you are looking for Mrs Tiggywinkle's hospital in the UK.

I have corresponded with Mr. Les Stocker, M.B.E. of the Wildlife

Hospital Trust a.k.a. ``St. Tiggywinkle's'' and I can report that his

address is

Wildlife Hospital Trust

Aston Road,

Haddenham, Aylesbury,

Buckinghamshire HP17 8AF

United Kingdom

Telephone: (44) 1844 292292

www: http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/

[????]

Roll 'em in mud andstick them on an open fire, their skins, barbs, fleas an all, peal away leaving you with tender hedgehog.....

*licks lips

[Shu.Kurimu.Sensei]

I love hedgehogs, any chance of a photo? (probably not a good idea to use the flash though, eh?)

[Pierre]

Don't feed them bread and milk. Somewhere in some children's book I once read, some children did that to nurse a sick hedgehog back to health.

I've never done it, but I've been told by a couple of vets that it's a terrible idea. It'll just make them really ill.

HTH!

: P

[Princess]

"Yes" don't give them bread and milk but if they do need food (and it sounds as if they might not) then cat or dog food (the type you get from a tin not biscuits) is ideal.

I'd say if they don't look distressed and are just snuffling around in daylight they're probably ok, just curious!

[Michael Palaeologus]

I would go as far to suggest that they are happy and feel safe, as they toddling around in the daylight. Cute.

Hedgehogs do not get on with milk and the dog/cat food idea is a good one, but dont leave the food out for too long, you will get rats. Not cute.

[TheePope]

Thanks for the tips people. I put some cat food out and they wolfed it down and spent the evening shuffling around the garden. Haven't seen / heard them today.

The tiggywinkles link above was useful I might have to make one of those 'Hedgehog Houses' to encourage them away from the back door! Though I did read somewhere they were incredibly stupid animals so they'll probably just ignore it...

This was East Dulwich Autumn Watch bought to you by TheePope.

[SteveT]

Better from TheePope, rather than that irritating and obnoxious, well past his use by date, Bill Oddie;-)

[AcedOut]

Warning - they are probably riddled with fleas. My brother once looked after one a long time ago and the consequences were not good! They may look cute, but they don't make good pets!

[Ratpack]

If you are into gardening - they are a godsend. They will eat all the slugs and snails and your veg will flourish. Lots of people are desperately trying to encourage them in their garden. I wish I had one.

[TheePope]

Ratpack - let's call it ?20 for or one or two for ?30 and they're yours??

Cheers

*** Please note this was a joke, please do not PM asking for prices / availability / slug clearing potential ***

[Administrator]

Moving this to the Lounge area now

[smartie393]

You can adopt a hedgehog from here Adopt a hedgehog

[TheePope]

-- moved topic --

[Gabster]

Hello there

Just logged in to the forum and noticed your message. Do you still have your hogs? I used to have a sanctuary in Cornwall (only just moved to East Dulwich) and there are a few things you need to check before the colder weather starts to set in.

Normally if a Hog is out in the day it means they have worms and need to be treated (vets usually give free treatment under the wildlife scheme) as they will not survive otherwise. If they are walking around as if they are 'drunk'....it means they are very poorly. Also, they need to be a particular weight at this time of year to make sure they survive the winter... above 500g....the more the merrier...

Another thing is not to give them cat food with any fish derivities in it and it severely affects their digestion.

I might be able to help if there are still under your ivy...just let me know.

Gabby

[snorky]

Would like some hedgehogs for the garden - can you buy these online ?

[Gabster]

Try ebay....under Hogs for Hedges....

[snorky]

im serious - if anyone has a couple of pesky hogs they cant get shot of, then Snorky want them!

[Michael Palaeologus]

Silly Snorky. Simply buy two Guinea pigs, smother them in super glue and then roll them in Lady Snorky's pin container.

Presto! Two hedgehogs.

[Gabster]

Just seen one on Lordship Lane for you Snorky...a bit flat though....any good with resuscitation techniques?

[TheePope]

Thanks Gabster - have not seen them for a few days - will keep an eye out though.

Snorky - I've got a squirrel if you want that - in fact I'd pay you to take the bugger away?

[snorky]

got sqrls by the bucket full, bu thanks anyway

still after a pair of hogs to enjoy the garden slugs!

[Jeremy]

Apparently they don't actually eat that many slugs normally... and if they're forced to eat slugs due to limited options, they tend to get ill pretty quickly.