Happy 2025 to all of you who take the time and trouble to read my article and also a very special thank you to Paul and the Newton News team for printing this. I need every reader to know that these beautiful mammals have very challenging lives out there in the wild and I want all of us to take some responsibility to make it easier for them by making hedgehog highways in your garden fences, putting food out, the Tesco Kitten kibble is a big hit with our wildies, it’s not expensive either.
I am happy to say that I have managed to keep 26 hedgehogs here for overwintering, a mixture of boys, girls, big and small. Thanks to Angela and her team of vets, I have managed to obtain the various life saving treatments, antibiotics, fluids and pain killers, of course these items don’t come cheap. I have just managed to get a bottle of antibiotic and it’s a good one which cost over £100, so it’s not just about food, it’s about bedding, medicines, microscope slides and cleaning supplies. The list is endless and I can’t afford to be without any of these items, I have 13 cages and two hoggies per cage, it’s very hard work because five cages overspill into the kitchen and garden room overnight. My home is still very clean though.
Hedgehogs in rescue can still fall ill, at the moment I have Amelia, Buster and Bobby who have Giardia, this is quite a nasty illness and can make their behaviour erratic, treatment has started and all the signs are good, so don’t worry Elaine, Bobby is going to be fine.
Buster from School Aycliffe (pictured) is a very tricky little hog. He refuses to take his meds orally, so I have to get them into him another way, some of his meds are injectable, but not the one for his Giardia. Patience is a virtue, he can’t win, especially when he loves his puppy mousse.
Most hedgehogs will be hibernating now, especially when the overnight temperatures are below zero, there is no food out there, but I have been told that some visitors have called to Steve and Lesley’s garden recently, bless them they always put food on and so do I.
I would like to thank everyone who make donations that go to my hedgehogs, I try very hard to save money with some success too, a few weeks ago I took the time and trouble to ring Royal Canin in Somerset, I asked if they help hedgehogs which they replied ‘yes’ they do, so now I am a Royal Canin Professional Partner because I run a rescue! This means I don’t pay full price for their foods which all my hoggies, past and present, love. If you can get a hog to eat, half the battle has been won. I also use washable puppy pads, recommended by Donella at Grannies Choice, the money I save goes towards food and meds. Thank you Donella.
I am always reachable either by email or on Facebook, so if you need any help please feel free to message me.
Email pricklyhaven@yahoo.com – Facebook page: Prickly Haven Hedgehog Hotel. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society are contactable on 01584 890801.