Hedgehogs are nocturnal, they sleep during the day. They also hibernate throughout winter. This is usually November to mid-March but is dependent on temperature. They can sometimes be seen out and about during the day and during the winter but this is quite rare.
| Cause for concern | When to help a hedgehog | When not to help a hedgehog |
|---|---|---|
| Seen during the day | Hog is staggering | Hog is moving with purpose – mums will take the opportunity to find food and nesting materials whenever she can find it |
| Ticks | Over 10 ticks is a cause for concern. Any ticks on a baby is cause for concern | Fewer than 10 ticks on an adult hog is acceptable, they will drop off when full |
| Baby seen alone | If no sight of mum after 2 hours | Monitor to see if mum appears, if mum turns up then all is well |
| Hog is scratching | If scratching seems excessive | Hogs scratch a lot, they often scratch off ticks and their new spines can cause itching when working through the skin |
| Hog appears dead | If hog is cold outside of hibernation then it probably needs help | When hibernating hogs are cold and barely breathe so can appear dead, please do not bury until absolutely certain |
Please remember that hedgehogs are wild animals and being handled is stressful for them. If you are unsure if the hedgehog should be seen by a rescue please do contact us first and we will advise. If an intervention is required there a few things you will need:
- Garden gloves – hedgehog spines are sharp and they could also have ringworm or ticks. Protect yourself by wearing thick gloves when handling the hog.
- A high-sided cardboard box – hedgehogs are escape artists and very good climbers.
- Kitchen roll – white kitchen roll is useful for showing up blood if the hog is bleeding from a wound you haven’t noticed.
- An old towel – you will need this to put in the cardboard box so the hog has somewhere to hide.
- Water – please provide water but not food unless advised by a rescue.
When ready put on the gloves and gentle scoop up the hedgehog. Place the hedgehog in the cardboard box with a sheet of kitchen roll on the bottom and lay the towel over the top of the hog. Keep the box in a warm quiet area. A cardboard box is a short-term solution, the water will get tipped over and the hog will poop all over it, please get the hog to a rescue as soon as possible.
Hope for Hedgehogs 