RSPCA centres inundated with prickly patients

15.12.12

RSPCA wildlife centres have been inundated with vast numbers of hedgehogs – many of whom are so sick and small they need help to survive the winter.

Between June and the end of November 1,669 of the prickly animals were brought into our four specialist centres around the country – nearly 500 more than the 1,189 brought in during the same period last year.

East Winch in Norfolk and Stapeley Grange in Cheshire have seen the highest numbers in need of care and are appealing for help.
 

Many of the current patients were taken in after being found outside during the day by members of the public in an underweight, dehydrated and weak state. One tiny 112 gram youngster recently found its way into a porch - apparently looking for food and shelter.

It is not known what could have caused this surge of hog patients this autumn, but it is thought the rainy summer could be a possible cause.

Alison Charles, manager of East Winch centre in Norfolk, said:

The number of hedgehogs we are seeing come to us in need of help this year is just incredible, at present we have 193.

Hedgehogs are not hard to care for, but when we have these kind of numbers it takes a lot of time to clean them out, medicate and feed them all. Staff are coping brilliantly but they are under increasing pressure.

We are getting through 81 cans of dog food each day. We mix adult dog food in gravy and puppy food together and are thinking a small cement mixer may be quicker than the potato masher we are using at present.

Lee Stewart, manager of Stapeley Grange centre in Cheshire, said:

The sheer volume of hedgehogs we are having to deal with is overwhelming. We are full to the brim and it is really draining our resources and stretching us to the limit.

It is hard to say exactly what is causing it. It’s certainly possible the wet summer could have had an effect – but it can be a mystery sometimes.

What is certain is that anything people can do to help could make a real difference right now – whether it is donations of newspaper to give the hogs somewhere to burrow or sponsoring a hedgehog.
 

We recommend people worried about the hedgehogs in their garden being too small to survive the winter give them a helping hand by feeding them things like dog or cat food or even food scraps such as minced meat or scrambled eggs, and fresh water. It also may help to leave them a hedgehog-friendly area of the garden with leaves and brushwood for them to hibernate in - or a purpose built hedgehog box.

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