We have started to receive calls regarding when to pick up a hedgehog as winter approaches. Please follow the advice below:
When may a hedgehog need help?
– the hedgehog is out in the day
– the hedgehog is injured
– the hedgehog is wobbly as it walks
– the hedgehog is vocalising
– the hedgehog is laying down/flat out/”sunbathing”
– the hedgehog has flies on it
We would NOT advise to pick up hedgehogs that are:
– Bright, active and behaving normally at night, regardless of their apparent size.
If in doubt, please get in touch with your local rescue before picking up a hedgehog who is active and behaving normally at night.
Only sick, injured or orphaned hedgehogs should ever be picked up and taken to rescue, making sure you call them first to see if they can take the hedgehog as many, like us, will be full at this time of year.
If you feed hedgehogs in your garden, we would recommend that you carry on doing so right through the winter as many hedgehogs do not hibernate, or only hibernate for short periods. It is particularly important that you feed hedgehogs at this time of year as they need to build up reserves to see them through hibernation/winter.
