Firstly - what time is it?
Night time - you should visually assess the hedgehog for injury. If none, let the hedgehog go on it’s way. If visibly injured, please follow the below advice.
Day time / or injured any time -
- Pick it up
- Put it in a high sided box with a towel, or newspaper strips
- Search Wildlife Directory online and find your closest rescue to call for advice
- Provide shelter
- Keep it warm inside – not a garage or shed
- Do not give direct heat or food until you have been asked to. You can offer a shallow bowl of water but do not force it to drink. If you need to keep it for an extended period of time, put the box in the bath – it can’t get out of there!
- Please call us during our opening hours to provide notice of your visit that you will be bringing in a hedgehog. The number to call is 07827 751083.
You will find some useful downloadable attachments at the bottom of this page including signs of a poorly hedgehog, and body conditions, which will help you assess the hedgehog whilst in your care.
Bringing the hedgehog in
During our opening hours, please bring the hedgehog to us, or find a friend or family member who can. We have neither the time nor the funds to drive around the county collecting them. Please do not bring the hedgehog in without notice of your visit, as we are always incredibly busy with very unwell hedgehog who need our full time support.
Why do I need to bring them to you?
There is never a ‘good’, or ‘convenient’ time to find a hedgehog. You may have to get to work, have a child, a partner, life… We all do too, and at the moment, you have a problem, I do not.
We do not have the time or resources to go around Chatteris and the county to collect everyone’s hedgehog because we are a hedgehog hospital. No-one owns wildlife, and it is not my responsibility until it crosses my threshold. Harsh? Yes, but what do I do with 18 other hedgehogs while I’m picking up one? You can keep it warm and secure until later that day, just don’t keep it for a week!