Samuel Davis

Attention all County and District Councils, hotels, clubs and community centres who are organising a firework/bonfire night: *****Please don't make this event be something you'll regret for the rest of your life***** Unlike most mammals, hedgehogs don't have the Fight or Flight Response to danger. That means that no matter how frightened they are, they don't bite, and they don't run away. Their response to danger is to curl up into a protective ball, and wait until the danger passes. That's why so many get run over by approaching cars. That's why so many are maimed and killed by approaching strimmers. And that's why so many get burned alive in bonfires. Poking a stick under the bonfire pile will just make the hedgehog inside curl into a ball. Even if you touch her and hurt her, she won't move or make a sound. Lighting it from one side will just make the hedgehog curl even tighter. As the smoke fills her lungs and her coat begins to singe, she will freeze in place and wait for the danger to pass. Shining a light under the bonfire will just make the hedgehog ball even tighter. She'll close her eyes so they don't reflect light and give her presence away. The ONLY way to make a bonfire safe is to build it the same day you light it. So if it's already built, you need to move it on the day you light it. If you are starting to build it in place then you MUST first enclose the area with a hedgehog-proof fence, to ensure no hogs enter. If you can take the trouble to have a bonfire, then please take the trouble to do it safely. Please don't make this event be something you'll regret for the rest of your life. Printable PDF of this poster available here: tinyurl.com/HedgehogCabin

As we are in September now, and the start of the 'autumn orphan' baby hedgehog season, I thought I'd repost this example from last year, as a warning: "This is such a sad story, every time I think of what this poor girl has suffered, I cry. Found as a baby on the road, out in the day time, in October last year, this little hog was taken in by a lovely couple in their 70s. They rang the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (@hedgehogsociety) and asked what they should do. They were given the details of 2 local rescues. These were full, so they rang the society back and asked what they should do. "Just keep her," they were told. "Feed her and fatten her up and release her in the spring". NEVER EVER DO THIS. Trusting the society knew what they were doing, and their advice could be trusted, the couple obeyed. They kept the baby hedgehog in a 3 foot by 3 foot box, with a pile of bedding in one half, food in one corner (raw chicken and some cat biscuits, as advised by the vet they rang, again as advised by the BHPS), and the other corner for a toilet. NEVER ASK A VET FOR WILDLIFE ADVICE. This poor little hedgehog was kept in this box and grew up in it, from October to now, April. 6 months. Living in a box. The couple were so worried they were not doing the right thing, but were told all was fine by the BHPS. This week, after reading hedgehogs are up and about, they phoned the BHPS again for advice. They were told to release the hedgehog. Just like that. This baby who had known nothing but a wooden box for all her life, who was completely institutionised and had never walked more than 2 foot distance, so had no muscle tone, just put out, defenceless and utterly unprepared. The lovely couple didn't like to question the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, thinking that because of the name that they were some kind of authority on hedgehogs, but felt in their heart it was wrong, so they phoned a local rescue for advice. The rescue was, understandably, shocked and horrified to hear what had been done to this poor wild animal. They shouted at the kind couple, and made the wife cry, and the husband very upset. But still the couple persisted, and called another local rescue. This old couple are quiet, and of a generation who feel subserviant to anyone they feel has more knowledge than them, so are slow to deny suppositions or explain themselves. The second rescue didn't listen, and gave them no time to explain. She shouted at them, told them they were cruel, and that she would be taking the hedgehog from them, and they were to bring the hedgehog to her, and that she would text her address. She never did. Thankfully. But still this lovely couple, so worried and wanting to do the right thing, persevered. And called me. I explained that the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (@hedgehogsociety) is just a group of people who raise funds for research. They have no personal experience or knowledge of hedgehogs, and are NOT qualified to give advice. They keep a list of some UK rescues (some rescues, like me, choose not to be on it). The volunteers who answer the phone are not experienced or knowledgeable and should NOT give advice. All they should do is give the caller the details of rescues, who will then triage the call and advise the finder. They should NEVER have told anyone to keep a hedgehog casualty. If this little one had had lungworm or fluke she would have died a horrible, agonising death. And 98% of autumn orphans have lungworm and/or fluke. If you find a hedgehog casualty or are worried about any aspect of their health, always speak directly to a rescue. They are the frontline and will happily advise you. Just Google 'hedgehog rescue' and a list will appear in order of distance from you. Vets in the UK are not wildlife trained. They are a business for domestic animals only, who have completely different needs to wild animals. So vets know no more about wildlife care than you. A good vet will tell you this, and refer you to a wildlife rescue. Unfortunately some vets find that difficult to do, and give baseless, incorrect and often lethal 'advice'. The only place to get advice about wild animals is from a wildlife rescue or hospital. Feeding raw chicken could have killed this baby in many ways. It's so low in calcium and so high in phosphorus that had the couple not supplemented it with cat biscuits, this little baby would have been crippled and died in agony of Metabolic Bone Disease. Raw chicken can also contain deadly bacteria, like salmonella. The ONLY safe food for hedgehogs is complete cat/kitten/puppy food - one that has meat listed as the 1st ingredient. This poor girl is here now, so is safe. She has two different types of internal parasites; roundworm, and capillaria aerophila; a type of lungworm. If she had these when first taken in she would have died horribly by now. So, as she hasn't set foot outside, the parasites probably came from the food she was given (some people dig up worms from their garden, or slugs, to feed captive hedgehogs, not knowing these are intermediate hosts for all sorts of parasites). Because the arrival of food was the only shaft of light in her otherwise bleak existence, and it was impossible for her to exercise, she is overweight. Her skin is red and sore and overstretched. She is in a high state of stress; both chronic, long-term from her imprisonment, and from the huge change she has experienced coming here. I've put her in a special large pen, so while she is here being treated for her physical ailments she can get some muscle tone built up. I've called her Liberty, because that is something I am determined she will have, when mended." I'm happy to say although it took quite a few weeks, poor Liberty was successfully rehabilitated and released into a wonderful supportive garden, where she could have a gentle introduction to the big wild world. Since then her confidence has grown to the extent that she has left the garden to live truly wild, but still returns for food, to the safe trusted oasis. If you find a hedgehog of any size out in the day, please immediately ring a trusted, experienced *rescue* for advice. We are always happy to help.