I don’t know where to begin this week, so I will tell you about Willow, she is a very small hedgehog brought in by Carol and Glenn last Thursday. They visited a caravan park about an hour away, when they saw this little hog out in the open looking at them, shivering in the cold. They immediately picked her up and they found my number. I said I was full, I agreed to take her in and what a shock I got! She was a mere 170g with fly eggs on her, I cleaned her up and started meds and I am glad to say she is doing ok for a little one. The poor lass would have been out all day in the cold looking for help, not even big enough to be without her mum or siblings, an hours journey straight to me, then the awful sound of my suction machine. Fly eggs are very bad for hedgehogs, flies lay eggs, hatch into maggots and eat big and small hogs, dead or alive. Very unpleasant, to say the least, speed is of the essence generally, but even more urgency when fly eggs are on a hog, the warmer the hog, the faster the eggs hatch into maggots. Carol and Glenn saved this beautiful little one’s life, that’s for sure.
When you see a hedgehog out in the day, please get them help, firstly, put them in a high sided box with towels or something so they can hide, they are very scared of humans, bring them indoors, then if they try to do a runner they won’t get far, seek help from The British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801, they have a list of rehabbers, including me, on their database. Rehabbers never close, I work from home. If I can’t admit a hedgehog, for whatever reason, I can provide help.
All my rescued hedgehogs will not be leaving here before spring, the weather conditions are horrendous with no dry bedding and the temperatures will get colder. No time to build nests for hibernation which generally starts in November.
I hope to meet as many of you as possible at Tesco this week, I have some beautiful things on offer, an advent calendar with some beautiful gifts behind the doors, Hazel has made some lovely carvings, June says she will be with me and I have just found out that a lovely lady is making a Christmas Cake for a raffle prize, lots of other nice bits and pieces too, including some leaflets for you.
Can I say finally a big thanks to everyone who has donated food and money, very much appreciated! I have more than 20 here that won’t be leaving this year.
Also Antony Burak, I can’t respond to your message, but I am delighted with your hog houses, please get in touch if you need anything, this applies to everyone who loves these beautiful mammals.
My Facebook Page is Prickly Haven Hedgehog Hotel, Email: pricklyhaven@yahoo.com
Photo: Please say Hello to Willow.