Newton Regis, Tamworth, Staffordshire

melanieunderhill@hotmail.co.uk

07387 904 856

Newton Regis Hedgehog Rescue

It’s the time of the year when Hedgehogs start to wake up and little hoglets/urchins grow and start to roam. They face many dangers and some don’t make it. This can be due to parental mortality, or predation, and of course our own activities. I work on behalf of my local rescue centre and have helped provide this webspace where you can see what Melanie is doing and how she cares for the little orphans that find their way into her care.

Check out her story and please donate to her cause if you can.

Have you found an injured or orphaned Hedgehog?

Newton Regis Hedgehog Rescue is committed to caring for hedgehogs in our local area and would be happy to have you help.

Basic Facts

Hedgehogs have been on the decline across the countryside for several years.

These pricky, sleepy little creatures are a much-loved mammal and hold a special place in people’s hearts.

Many hedgehogs are killed, injured, or orphaned every day which has caused the hedgehog population to drop substantively, so we are here to provide whatever help we can.

Things You Should Know

If you are concerned that a hedgehog may be injured, or a baby is perhaps lost or abandoned, here are some things that you should know before attempting to rescue it.

Emergency Advice

Have you found a Hedgehog in need of emergency treatment and don’t know what to do?

First of all, you must always ensure that you and others around you are safe and never put yourself in danger.

  • If you are in a position to get to the hedgehog, be sure to wear gloves at all times when handling them.
  • Have ready a strong cardboard box, lined with newspaper or a towel and place them gently inside.
  • Once contained keep them somewhere warm and dark in a quiet place and contact me.

For emergencies, I am available 24 hours to take in any injured hedgehogs.

Important

If you bring a hedgehog to me for treatment and care, I do ask that you agree to hand all of their care over to me. I will commit to looking after all aspects of their treatment including release.

Please do note that I am unable to return hedgehogs for release, to persons who hand them in to me. This will be my responsibility.

Finding A Hedgehog

To have a hedgehog cross your path can be considered a privileged. This is rarer these days due to loss of habitat and food. They are generally nocturnal animals and they may be hungry and looking for something to eat. So, if you find any of these spikey little creatures paying your garden a visit, do please make them feel at home.

Hedgehogs love to travel freely, so don’t be in a rush to handle them. It’s always best to leave them and just observe. They may just be passing by. However, you may want to check whether they need any help. If something about them looks out of place, or there are signs of weakness, the hedgehog most likely does need your help. If this is the case, use gloves and gently place the hedgehog in a lined cardboard box and then please contact me for advice.

When you have made then cosy, you can offer them something to eat, such as dog or cat food, including buscuits (all in jelly only) Do not feed them fish! But please do not try to force feed them, they will eat if hungry. They may also be thirsty, so please be sure to offer them a fresh bowl of water.

Preventing Casualties

Dangers to hedgehogs came in many forms, so when working in your garden, please don’t add to their problems. If you use netting for your garden plants, or for any other reasons, please make sure that it is placed at least 30cm above the ground. Other things like discarded tin cans, ponds, elastic bands and other rubbish that may attract a hedgehog can be dangerous. Check the undergrowth before you cut the bushes or grass. Check your bonfire before you light it. There are many things you can do in your garden to help these little critters during their visit.

Keep it tidy keep it safe!