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www.rspca.org.uksciencegroupwildlife22Sciencegroupreviewof2012WildlifeDespitegrowingpublicconcerntheappreciationofthewelfareneedsofwildanimalsisofteninadequate.TheRSPCAwildlifedepartmentseekstoimprovewelfareprovisionsforcaptiveandfree-livingwildanimals.Thisisachievedthroughresearchpromotinganawarenessoftherequirementsofanimalsandanemphasisonaprecautionaryandhumaneapproachtohumaninteractionswithwildanimals.HedgehoghibernationpatterntrackingprojectTheRSPCAsfourwildlifecentresadmitmorehedgehogsthananyothermammalwithanaverageofover1600beingadmittedoverthepast10years.Someofthesehedgehogsareinjuredorsickadultsbutmanyarejuvenileseithergenuineorphansoranimalsthathavefailedtothriveduetoillnesssuchaslungworm.Manyofthesehedgehogsareadmittedintheautumnandsowecanhavelargenumbersofhedgehogsinourcareoverwinter.Wehavemanagedthissituationinthepastbyreleasinganumberofthesehedgehogsduringthewinter.Weletthemsettleintohibernationincaptivitythenreleasethemduringspellsofmildweather.Aspartofourcontinuingresearchintothesuccessofwildliferehabilitationwearecurrentlyradio-trackinganumberofthesehedgehogstoinvestigatetheirsurvivaloverwinter.Theprevioustwoyearshavebeenpositivewithallthe1.MORRISP.A.1984AnestimateoftheminimumbodyweightnecessaryforhedgehogsErinaceuseuropaeustosurvivehibernation.JournalofZoology203291-294PhilipToscanoJoeMurphyx2RSPCAPhotolibraryAndrewKellyBScPhDHeadofdepartmentColinBootyBScDeputyheadAdamGroganBScRosClubbBScDPhilfrom26.11.2012LisaRileyBScMScMResMScPhDSeniorscientificofficersSophieAdwickBScMScScientificofficerNicolaCunninghamBScMScPGDipScientificinformationofficerAlisonCharlesVNBelDeeringBAMAPGCertResLeeStewartBScMScPeterVennBARSPCAwildlifecentremanagersSueGallagherOfficemanagerNatashaFauldingAdministrativeassistantreleasedhedgehogssurvivinghibernationandwakingupthefollowingspringtostartlivinglifeasawildhedgehog.Thisyearnotonlyareweradio-trackingourrehabilitatedhedgehogsbutwearealsoworkingwithuniversitydepartmentsatBrightonReadingandNottinghamTrenttocomparethesurvivalofrehabilitatedhedgehogswithwildhedgehogs.Wildhedgehogsweretaggedwithradiotransmittersattheselocationsandtheywillbemonitoredduringthewinter.Notonlydoweaimtodemonstratethatourrehabilitationandreleaseofhedgehogsissuccessfulbutbymonitoringwildhedgehogswehopetoprovideevidencetosupportthehypothesisthathedgehogsneedtoweighatleast450gtosurvivehibernationMorris19841.Theresultsfromalltheradio-trackedhedgehogswillbecollatedanalysedandsubmittedforpublicationassoonaspossible.