Hedgehog casualties

We’ve had several more hedgehogs brought in this week, mostly they are small and weak, this year’s babies who haven’t been able to find enough food.  Some have minor injuries, not  life threatening but enough to cause a setback if untreated.

All the earlier hedgehogs are doing well and recovering nicely.  Pearl is a friendly girl who has an enormous appetite, as soon as her injury is completely healed we’ll let her go.  It’s always a wrench when they leave, we’re wondering if they will be safe, it’s such a threatening and dangerous world out there for them, humans being their biggest threat.  Please leave gaps in your garden fences so they can get out and roam, they go walkabout at night to find food and new territory.

Mr. Womble, who is our biggest hedgehog and who likes a boiled egg for his tea, is a resident here.  He’s been around for several years now and is quite tame, which makes him vulnerable.  After the first winter, when we let him go, he refused to leave.  He’s an inquisitive chap and comes for a nosy and to see what’s going on.  He has a semi-free life with his own territory and where he can come and go as he pleases.

Hedgehogs are solitary creatures and aren’t bothered about family life.  They ignore one another unless it’s mating time when they’ll travel a long way to find a partner.  When mother hedgehog has reared her babies, that’s it – they’re on their own.

We have to be cautious when introducing new hedgehogs into a group, sometimes they get on, other times it’s the fight club!  Single rooms only please.