Hog Log 2019-2025
The Beginning. |
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Hi, My name is Tas and I’m going to start to explain how it all began. After that I will just update on certain stories or funny Hedgehog adventures.Going back in my mind, across time and space – I remember seeing hedgehogs at about the age of 7. Which is impressive, because at age 7 most of us were busy eating mud, losing wellies in ponds, and believing that cows were just big dogs.
I grew up on a farm with a Yorkshireman as a substitute Uncle who could do everything short of resurrecting the dead. He could predict the weather, talk to horses, and whistle in a way that made a horse pee on command. This is not a skill you can put on a CV, but it is the kind of thing that makes you question whether he was actually a wizard. He taught me how to uncurl a hedgehog, which is basically the countryside version of opening a tin of beans, except the beans hiss at you and occasionally sneeze.
Fast‑forward to 2009. My husband and I spot a hedgehog on a romantic walk and I realise I haven’t seen one in years. Not because they’re rare — I’d just been too busy being an adult, which is a tragic medical condition caused by bills.
Then 2020 hits. The world shuts down. People bake banana bread. I build a hedgehog village. In between lock downs I attend a Hedgehog FIrst Aid & Rehabilitation course.
It started with one hedgehog. Then Pagan the dog found their secret tunnel. Then I found myself saying the sentence, “Terry, we need three hedgehog houses because I read it somewhere,” which is how most of our DIY disasters begin.
Within weeks we had CCTV, a feeding station, a temporary enclosure, a roof, a bigger roof, and a fox invasion that triggered a full‑scale military response. I built a brick entrance so complicated that even I couldn’t get in. The hedgehogs, however, walked through it like they owned the place.Then came the moment that confirmed the universe was messing with us: a hedgehog walked into the workshop, knocked over a chair, and left. The next night, one of the dogs delivered the same hedgehog to me, like a spiky Uber Eats order. We named it Magick because clearly it teleports.
We built a medical centre — Hog‑monceux Medical Centre — because apparently we don’t do hobbies, we do infrastructure. We bought an incubator so fancy it could probably hatch a dragon. Our first patient had ticks. Many ticks. Enough ticks to qualify for a group discount. Then came a broken leg from Oscar.
Then came the rats. The rats were bold. The hedgehogs were offended. We tried mint, pepper, swing doors, psychological warfare, and finally defeated them with the smell of sheep wool. This is the kind of strategy Sun Tzu would have written about if he’d lived in Sussex.
By spring we had 20 hedgehogs visiting nightly. Some came for food. Some came for water. Some came for the drama. Rocket, our speed‑queen hedgehog, still sprinted everywhere like she was late for a Zoom meeting.
We feed them Purina One kitten biscuits (the pink one) because hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and mealworms are basically tiny calcium‑stealing criminals. If hedgehogs had a McDonald’s, mealworms would be the fries — delicious, addictive, and terrible for your bones.
And that’s how a quiet garden project turned into a hedgehog empire, complete with CCTV, a medical centre, and a husband who now builds hedgehog houses like he’s auditioning for The Great British Spike‑Off.
“Oh how I wish I’d written it all down – but we don’t do we?” Well… I just did. And now it’s hilarious.!
Below: Feeding guide for Wild Hedgehogs.
I grew up on a farm with a Yorkshireman as a substitute Uncle who could do everything short of resurrecting the dead. He could predict the weather, talk to horses, and whistle in a way that made a horse pee on command. This is not a skill you can put on a CV, but it is the kind of thing that makes you question whether he was actually a wizard. He taught me how to uncurl a hedgehog, which is basically the countryside version of opening a tin of beans, except the beans hiss at you and occasionally sneeze.
Fast‑forward to 2009. My husband and I spot a hedgehog on a romantic walk and I realise I haven’t seen one in years. Not because they’re rare — I’d just been too busy being an adult, which is a tragic medical condition caused by bills.
Then 2020 hits. The world shuts down. People bake banana bread. I build a hedgehog village. In between lock downs I attend a Hedgehog FIrst Aid & Rehabilitation course.
It started with one hedgehog. Then Pagan the dog found their secret tunnel. Then I found myself saying the sentence, “Terry, we need three hedgehog houses because I read it somewhere,” which is how most of our DIY disasters begin.
Within weeks we had CCTV, a feeding station, a temporary enclosure, a roof, a bigger roof, and a fox invasion that triggered a full‑scale military response. I built a brick entrance so complicated that even I couldn’t get in. The hedgehogs, however, walked through it like they owned the place.Then came the moment that confirmed the universe was messing with us: a hedgehog walked into the workshop, knocked over a chair, and left. The next night, one of the dogs delivered the same hedgehog to me, like a spiky Uber Eats order. We named it Magick because clearly it teleports.
We built a medical centre — Hog‑monceux Medical Centre — because apparently we don’t do hobbies, we do infrastructure. We bought an incubator so fancy it could probably hatch a dragon. Our first patient had ticks. Many ticks. Enough ticks to qualify for a group discount. Then came a broken leg from Oscar.
Then came the rats. The rats were bold. The hedgehogs were offended. We tried mint, pepper, swing doors, psychological warfare, and finally defeated them with the smell of sheep wool. This is the kind of strategy Sun Tzu would have written about if he’d lived in Sussex.
By spring we had 20 hedgehogs visiting nightly. Some came for food. Some came for water. Some came for the drama. Rocket, our speed‑queen hedgehog, still sprinted everywhere like she was late for a Zoom meeting.
We feed them Purina One kitten biscuits (the pink one) because hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and mealworms are basically tiny calcium‑stealing criminals. If hedgehogs had a McDonald’s, mealworms would be the fries — delicious, addictive, and terrible for your bones.
And that’s how a quiet garden project turned into a hedgehog empire, complete with CCTV, a medical centre, and a husband who now builds hedgehog houses like he’s auditioning for The Great British Spike‑Off.
“Oh how I wish I’d written it all down – but we don’t do we?” Well… I just did. And now it’s hilarious.!
Below: Feeding guide for Wild Hedgehogs.
OSCAR - The Handsome one.
It all began with a hedgehog fight caught on CCTV — the kind of grainy footage that looks like Bigfoot wrestling a spiky potato. Two days later, we finally captured the limping survivor, who must have been absolutely traumatised to be snatched by a giant wearing rubber gloves like some kind of deranged Michelin‑man‑surgeon.
We named him Oscar, because if any hedgehog deserved an award for drama, it was this one.
After a day of swelling, panic, and me Googling things like “hedgehog leg looks wrong help,” we took him to the vet. The first vet took one look and basically said: “Well, his leg is broken in two places. He’ll never return to the wild. Unless you want a pet hedgehog, we may need to consider… the thing we don’t say out loud.”
Consultation, meds, X‑rays: £120.
Emotional damage: priceless.
I did what any sensible person would do — I phoned Vale Wildlife in a blind panic. They immediately said, “He’ll be fine!” which is exactly what you want to hear when you’re holding a spiky woodland goblin who looks like he’s been in a bar fight.
Then — plot twist — the vet rang back.
The senior vet had reviewed the case and basically said:
“He’s young, he’s healthy, and hedgehogs need protecting. I can pin his leg. He’ll be fine.”
Did I ask my husband about the cost?
Absolutely not.
I said yes so fast I think the phone caught fire.
Oscar went into surgery the next day. Rosario Gutierrez, the vet, deserves a knighthood. She put two pins into a hedgehog leg that is 3mm wide. That’s the thickness of a pound coin. I can’t even thread a needle without swearing.
Oscar came home that same day, looking like a tiny, furious war veteran.
Then came the antibiotics.
Let me tell you something:
Giving liquid antibiotics to a hedgehog is like trying to baptise a cactus.
He huffed.
He puffed.
He turned into a medieval weapon.
I phoned Vale again, begging for advice.
They said, “Oh, we don’t give hedgehogs liquid meds. We inject them.”
Inject.
A hedgehog.
But fine. I’ve injected horses, dogs, cats, myself —I'd done their course, injected a training hedgehog with no pulse. How hard could it be?
Answer:
VERY. VERY HARD.
Oscar flinched.
I flinched.
He stabbed me with a quill.
I stabbed the air.
It was like a slapstick sketch written by someone who hates both of us.
Five days.
Two injections a day.
By the end, Oscar and I had an agreement:
He could stab me once, and I would do the injection with my eyes shut so I didn’t flinch harder than he did.
Then came the weekly check‑ups, X‑rays, more meds, more bills, more emotional turmoil, and eventually the pins came out. Oscar began hydrotherapy and ramp therapy — yes, my husband built a hedgehog rehab gym. At this point we were basically running a tiny NHS.
Oscar started drinking water again. He looked longingly at the outdoors like a prisoner planning a breakout.
Six weeks later, on a warm evening, it was release day.
We placed him by “Hedgingham Castle,” the luxury hedgehog mansion built especially for him. He toddled inside, waited three hours, then strutted out like:
“Thanks for the surgery, losers.”
Three days later he appeared in Hedgehog Haven, alive, well, and probably bragging to the other hedgehogs about his bionic leg.
He still visits occasionally, but mostly he’s returned to his old stomping grounds — probably telling tales of the time he survived surgery, injections, and a human who cried over him more than once.
And honestly?
I hope we recognise him next season.
He’s earned his place in the Hedgehog Hall of Fame.
Oscar posing on a Hedgehog ramp surrounded by garden flowers, pictured below.
We named him Oscar, because if any hedgehog deserved an award for drama, it was this one.
After a day of swelling, panic, and me Googling things like “hedgehog leg looks wrong help,” we took him to the vet. The first vet took one look and basically said: “Well, his leg is broken in two places. He’ll never return to the wild. Unless you want a pet hedgehog, we may need to consider… the thing we don’t say out loud.”
Consultation, meds, X‑rays: £120.
Emotional damage: priceless.
I did what any sensible person would do — I phoned Vale Wildlife in a blind panic. They immediately said, “He’ll be fine!” which is exactly what you want to hear when you’re holding a spiky woodland goblin who looks like he’s been in a bar fight.
Then — plot twist — the vet rang back.
The senior vet had reviewed the case and basically said:
“He’s young, he’s healthy, and hedgehogs need protecting. I can pin his leg. He’ll be fine.”
Did I ask my husband about the cost?
Absolutely not.
I said yes so fast I think the phone caught fire.
Oscar went into surgery the next day. Rosario Gutierrez, the vet, deserves a knighthood. She put two pins into a hedgehog leg that is 3mm wide. That’s the thickness of a pound coin. I can’t even thread a needle without swearing.
Oscar came home that same day, looking like a tiny, furious war veteran.
Then came the antibiotics.
Let me tell you something:
Giving liquid antibiotics to a hedgehog is like trying to baptise a cactus.
He huffed.
He puffed.
He turned into a medieval weapon.
I phoned Vale again, begging for advice.
They said, “Oh, we don’t give hedgehogs liquid meds. We inject them.”
Inject.
A hedgehog.
But fine. I’ve injected horses, dogs, cats, myself —I'd done their course, injected a training hedgehog with no pulse. How hard could it be?
Answer:
VERY. VERY HARD.
Oscar flinched.
I flinched.
He stabbed me with a quill.
I stabbed the air.
It was like a slapstick sketch written by someone who hates both of us.
Five days.
Two injections a day.
By the end, Oscar and I had an agreement:
He could stab me once, and I would do the injection with my eyes shut so I didn’t flinch harder than he did.
Then came the weekly check‑ups, X‑rays, more meds, more bills, more emotional turmoil, and eventually the pins came out. Oscar began hydrotherapy and ramp therapy — yes, my husband built a hedgehog rehab gym. At this point we were basically running a tiny NHS.
Oscar started drinking water again. He looked longingly at the outdoors like a prisoner planning a breakout.
Six weeks later, on a warm evening, it was release day.
We placed him by “Hedgingham Castle,” the luxury hedgehog mansion built especially for him. He toddled inside, waited three hours, then strutted out like:
“Thanks for the surgery, losers.”
Three days later he appeared in Hedgehog Haven, alive, well, and probably bragging to the other hedgehogs about his bionic leg.
He still visits occasionally, but mostly he’s returned to his old stomping grounds — probably telling tales of the time he survived surgery, injections, and a human who cried over him more than once.
And honestly?
I hope we recognise him next season.
He’s earned his place in the Hedgehog Hall of Fame.
Oscar posing on a Hedgehog ramp surrounded by garden flowers, pictured below.
Jo-Jo, the angel and rascal combination!
p
A near by neighbour called on the door one Saturday afternoon for advice regarding a hedgehog he had discovered. Grabbibg the first aid kit, it was a short walk to see this tiny one. Balled up and around the size of a tennis ball, I could tell it was badly dehydrated. Its little body breathing was slow and its heartbeat a little fast (wouldn't yours be? to be handled by these giants!) A few fleas and a watery eye along with lumps on its back, made the decision easy to get her back to, Hogmonceux Medical centre and get her in the incubator.
Five minutes later, we were back home, female. 198grams. I estimated around 8 weeks old, three days later, I'd say more like six weeks. I wonder what happened to Mum? Are there others? An immediate injection of fluids, (not a flinch in sight- for those that read my blog on Oscar, I'm now considering him a woose, as I don't think this little one has noticed one injection yet, and I dont think my injecting skills have changed that radically!) After the fluids, came a warm bath in antifungal treatment (very diluted due to her young age) and a spray over with natural flax oil. All this, and she was in the incubator within ten minutes of her arrival.
Then a panic for lactose free puppy milk ensured. I tried calling ALL the local pet shops, pets@home included, and then Six different veterinary practices. Typically, ours was closed at a weekend, as many are. Animals really have to understand that they should be ill in daylight hours and not at weekends, even if they are nocturnal by nature!!
An hour later, in the incubator, we could see she was a fighter. My husband drove out of the area to secure the correct formula of milk.It took over two hours in total to track the right stuff down and get it here. By the evening, this little angel had enjoyed two feeds and put on 32grams! Feeding continued around the clock every 2 hours. A week later, and I'm stepping it down from every three hours to every four hours. Thank God, for dear Katie, she covers the day shift whilst I get some sleep, yes its exhausting at times (she is such an inquisitive soul who constantly makes a mess, and I spend half my time at night, just going backwards and forwards to change her as she's tipped the water bowl over again!)However, a week after her arrival and she's gained 125 grams, her eye is completely cleared and her skin is in good condition. Today, is the second day of not giving her any additional subcutaneous fluids. She's now eating dry food, still the formula and water. She is doing so well.
Jo-jo, constantly buries herself in a cosy fleece and wants to be under something and therefore, secure. The constant heat of the incubator is helping too, she will need to grow prior to being released where she was found. At the moment she couldn't possibly fend for herself, she climbs with her legs crawling like a small kitten would. By size, she should be ready for release in the next ten days, I imagine - however, with no mum to teach her we will have to use judgement and common sense rather than following a "guide" on her size for release. It is against the law to keep a wild animal caged in this country, and its not something, Id ever wish to do - she is solely here for rehabilitation now.
My husband is altering a hedgehog house for her. Once she's out of the incubator, we will get her established in her own house, that way we can give the house to our neighbours and know she should have a safe place to go too, plus it will already have her scent in it, which we hope, will make her feel more secure.
Well Done, to our neighbours, for keeping an eye out and acting so quickly. If you see a small hedgehog out in the daytime, it usually needs a rescue and fast. A rescuers nightmare, is when someone says "I saw it in the garden for the last two days sunbathing" - that usually means there's little hope of saving them, so- to Jo and Steve, we applaud you! You helped saved this ones life!
UPDATE: Little JoJo was released the same evening as Oscar. Two evenings later, and JoJo was caught on camera returning to our garden for some food. Definitely a regular early visitor for a while, and then nothing. But, hedgehogs change their patterns regularly and I wouldn't be surprised if JoJo appears again one evening, in fact I hope Jojo does - but with their changing weight and appearance I'll be lucky if I recognise Jojo on the black and white footage of our CCTV cameras!
A near by neighbour called on the door one Saturday afternoon for advice regarding a hedgehog he had discovered. Grabbibg the first aid kit, it was a short walk to see this tiny one. Balled up and around the size of a tennis ball, I could tell it was badly dehydrated. Its little body breathing was slow and its heartbeat a little fast (wouldn't yours be? to be handled by these giants!) A few fleas and a watery eye along with lumps on its back, made the decision easy to get her back to, Hogmonceux Medical centre and get her in the incubator.
Five minutes later, we were back home, female. 198grams. I estimated around 8 weeks old, three days later, I'd say more like six weeks. I wonder what happened to Mum? Are there others? An immediate injection of fluids, (not a flinch in sight- for those that read my blog on Oscar, I'm now considering him a woose, as I don't think this little one has noticed one injection yet, and I dont think my injecting skills have changed that radically!) After the fluids, came a warm bath in antifungal treatment (very diluted due to her young age) and a spray over with natural flax oil. All this, and she was in the incubator within ten minutes of her arrival.
Then a panic for lactose free puppy milk ensured. I tried calling ALL the local pet shops, pets@home included, and then Six different veterinary practices. Typically, ours was closed at a weekend, as many are. Animals really have to understand that they should be ill in daylight hours and not at weekends, even if they are nocturnal by nature!!
An hour later, in the incubator, we could see she was a fighter. My husband drove out of the area to secure the correct formula of milk.It took over two hours in total to track the right stuff down and get it here. By the evening, this little angel had enjoyed two feeds and put on 32grams! Feeding continued around the clock every 2 hours. A week later, and I'm stepping it down from every three hours to every four hours. Thank God, for dear Katie, she covers the day shift whilst I get some sleep, yes its exhausting at times (she is such an inquisitive soul who constantly makes a mess, and I spend half my time at night, just going backwards and forwards to change her as she's tipped the water bowl over again!)However, a week after her arrival and she's gained 125 grams, her eye is completely cleared and her skin is in good condition. Today, is the second day of not giving her any additional subcutaneous fluids. She's now eating dry food, still the formula and water. She is doing so well.
Jo-jo, constantly buries herself in a cosy fleece and wants to be under something and therefore, secure. The constant heat of the incubator is helping too, she will need to grow prior to being released where she was found. At the moment she couldn't possibly fend for herself, she climbs with her legs crawling like a small kitten would. By size, she should be ready for release in the next ten days, I imagine - however, with no mum to teach her we will have to use judgement and common sense rather than following a "guide" on her size for release. It is against the law to keep a wild animal caged in this country, and its not something, Id ever wish to do - she is solely here for rehabilitation now.
My husband is altering a hedgehog house for her. Once she's out of the incubator, we will get her established in her own house, that way we can give the house to our neighbours and know she should have a safe place to go too, plus it will already have her scent in it, which we hope, will make her feel more secure.
Well Done, to our neighbours, for keeping an eye out and acting so quickly. If you see a small hedgehog out in the daytime, it usually needs a rescue and fast. A rescuers nightmare, is when someone says "I saw it in the garden for the last two days sunbathing" - that usually means there's little hope of saving them, so- to Jo and Steve, we applaud you! You helped saved this ones life!
UPDATE: Little JoJo was released the same evening as Oscar. Two evenings later, and JoJo was caught on camera returning to our garden for some food. Definitely a regular early visitor for a while, and then nothing. But, hedgehogs change their patterns regularly and I wouldn't be surprised if JoJo appears again one evening, in fact I hope Jojo does - but with their changing weight and appearance I'll be lucky if I recognise Jojo on the black and white footage of our CCTV cameras!
Hedgehog Family (October 2021)
One morning I received a phone call from a couple near Laughton. A lovely gentleman told me he was concerned as there was a family of hedgehogs nesting by his house. He'd had a word with a local rescue and was told to leave them be. This often happens when it involves a family. If a nesting hedgehog is disturbed there is the chance that she will eat her young, to protect them. This is why I beg people with Hedgehog houses not to keep peeping in. Yes, its tempting - but by simply putting a blade of grass across the entrance you will know if a little hoggy has taken up residence in your house. Even rescues hesitate to disturb a nesting female. However, this guys instincts must have been on alert - after calling his local rescue he decided to call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. That's where he got our telephone number from. It sounded like they were probably okay, but being a nesting mum with two children I thought I might be able to go and look quietly. With this in mind, I'd decided to leave looking at the family until early evening.
Mum had not done a very good job of nesting, and they were easily seen under a few leaves by the side of his house when we arrived. It turned out it was four male hoglets and mum. Mum was the one, I was most concerned about. She looked like she was covered in paint. I wondered if someone had been painting their garden fence nearby, it was a sort of grey cream colour and had caused her spines to stick together.
We bundled them up into a cat basket and brought them back to base.
On arrival, it was straight into bath time. We use a natural insecticidal bath treatment, as I try to keep all our treatments as natural as possible.
Oh My.. Mum stank! A smell I immediately recognised, but hadn't even thought of. How could I be so dumb? I think somewhere in her travels she'd found a sewage pit or drain run off. Two baths and it was still stuck to mum's spines. I didn't want to stress her too much, and bathing the little ones too, meant doing it in a certain order to keep mum calm. I finished off with a generous dose of organic flax seed oil. I find this helps with most skin irritations, not that I could see any damage to any of the hedgehogs skins.
Night two and it was bath time again - Now, with the help of the oil penetrating the quills for 24hours, and a gentle plastic detangle comb and brush the sewage just ran off of mum. Her quills took on a healthy light brown colour and only two of the hoglets needed a third bath.
I always use F10, at first examination stage - I'd previously used this when we'd pick them up, but I will return to it if needed.
All of the family were dehydrated so we have to start them off with fluid injections.
I was hoping to avoid antibiotics and treat them all naturally. Unfortunately, one then two of the hoglets started coughing. Time to call the expert. A quick chat with my vets receptionist with a request for some Marbocyl and more fluids ensured and now I'm back to injecting a family of hedgehogs every day.
There are concerns. Within 24 hours, the coughing has lessened so I'm very hopeful there. But, young hedgehogs (these are certainly Autumn Juveniles) will have to reach at least 600 gms to be in a good condition to hibernate. Some young hedgehogs will hibernate at 450gms and survive. These are currently not out with mum learning how to forage and nest. If the finders were prepared to leave food out for them, I wouldn't be too worried. But, they were very concerned about rats - and to be fair, unless you know a secret we don't ,feeding hedgehogs does often mean feeding rats if they are in your area. A feeding station is the best answer.
UPDATE:
This lovely family made the weight and were indeed released back to the finders garden, at the end of October.
Mum had not done a very good job of nesting, and they were easily seen under a few leaves by the side of his house when we arrived. It turned out it was four male hoglets and mum. Mum was the one, I was most concerned about. She looked like she was covered in paint. I wondered if someone had been painting their garden fence nearby, it was a sort of grey cream colour and had caused her spines to stick together.
We bundled them up into a cat basket and brought them back to base.
On arrival, it was straight into bath time. We use a natural insecticidal bath treatment, as I try to keep all our treatments as natural as possible.
Oh My.. Mum stank! A smell I immediately recognised, but hadn't even thought of. How could I be so dumb? I think somewhere in her travels she'd found a sewage pit or drain run off. Two baths and it was still stuck to mum's spines. I didn't want to stress her too much, and bathing the little ones too, meant doing it in a certain order to keep mum calm. I finished off with a generous dose of organic flax seed oil. I find this helps with most skin irritations, not that I could see any damage to any of the hedgehogs skins.
Night two and it was bath time again - Now, with the help of the oil penetrating the quills for 24hours, and a gentle plastic detangle comb and brush the sewage just ran off of mum. Her quills took on a healthy light brown colour and only two of the hoglets needed a third bath.
I always use F10, at first examination stage - I'd previously used this when we'd pick them up, but I will return to it if needed.
All of the family were dehydrated so we have to start them off with fluid injections.
I was hoping to avoid antibiotics and treat them all naturally. Unfortunately, one then two of the hoglets started coughing. Time to call the expert. A quick chat with my vets receptionist with a request for some Marbocyl and more fluids ensured and now I'm back to injecting a family of hedgehogs every day.
There are concerns. Within 24 hours, the coughing has lessened so I'm very hopeful there. But, young hedgehogs (these are certainly Autumn Juveniles) will have to reach at least 600 gms to be in a good condition to hibernate. Some young hedgehogs will hibernate at 450gms and survive. These are currently not out with mum learning how to forage and nest. If the finders were prepared to leave food out for them, I wouldn't be too worried. But, they were very concerned about rats - and to be fair, unless you know a secret we don't ,feeding hedgehogs does often mean feeding rats if they are in your area. A feeding station is the best answer.
UPDATE:
This lovely family made the weight and were indeed released back to the finders garden, at the end of October.
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End of 2021.
Finally, a chance to update the blog today :) . A very busy year for Help4hedgehogs! We have sold all of our 2022 slimline calendars, and the engraved glasses will be advertised later today. Christmas cards for 2022 are about to be completed and still I haven't decided how to promote and raise more funds for the vital equipment needed for our non profit hedgehog rescue.
It got too cold for me, following surgery in November to keep going back and fourth to the Hogmonceux medical room, so it was moved indoors temporarily, allowing us more space for the rehabilitated. Dancer, Yule, Donna, Holly, Blitzen, Cupid and Vixen (there's a Christmas theme going on here!) have all been bought in by our local hedgehog hero's. Sadly, all have parasites, most at least three, so medication, re-hydration, and warmth are the priorities. Even worse, we suffered our first failure - and lost dear Dancer. Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do, but we tried our best. I so wanted to wrap her in my arms as her time came - but that would of caused her more stress and only really comforted me. round 4 am, one morning, she gave up. She passed away in the warmth of the incubator as the cold winds blew outside.
We have been so lucky, to have operated for a year now and to have only lost one hedgehog is a small miracle. We listen to our guts, our hearts and try to put ourselves in the place of our patients. Hopefully by raising awareness and YOU by being a hedgehog hero, who acts fast - we will continue to have patients that thrive.
Holly, the smallest hedgehog found, is now gaining the most. Her Hero was a lovely lady who found her at the local crematoria, of all places! Apparently she whipped off her jumper and bundled this little hedgehog into it, and stored in a shopping bag, as she dashed along to us, Totally burdened with ectoparasites, this wee one would never have survived. Her ticks were so bad, that they were weighed rather than counted - and many had to be done by our vets, whilst she was sedated rather than put stress onto her little form. Today she has more than doubled her weight, and although still being treated for internal parasites her weight has now tipped over the 400 gram mark, so we have high hopes.
Also, a quick word, slightly off topic. To you, my dear reader - I raise my glass to you. For some have become Hedgehog Hero's and those of you I have have had the honour to meet, seem to be the nicest bunch of people. I will do all I can, so you can continue to keep your eyes peeled for those hogs in need of help. Thank you, for caring, thank you for sharing - but most important of all- They can't say it, but the Hedgehogs are grateful to you for giving them a chance.
Merry Christmas!
It got too cold for me, following surgery in November to keep going back and fourth to the Hogmonceux medical room, so it was moved indoors temporarily, allowing us more space for the rehabilitated. Dancer, Yule, Donna, Holly, Blitzen, Cupid and Vixen (there's a Christmas theme going on here!) have all been bought in by our local hedgehog hero's. Sadly, all have parasites, most at least three, so medication, re-hydration, and warmth are the priorities. Even worse, we suffered our first failure - and lost dear Dancer. Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do, but we tried our best. I so wanted to wrap her in my arms as her time came - but that would of caused her more stress and only really comforted me. round 4 am, one morning, she gave up. She passed away in the warmth of the incubator as the cold winds blew outside.
We have been so lucky, to have operated for a year now and to have only lost one hedgehog is a small miracle. We listen to our guts, our hearts and try to put ourselves in the place of our patients. Hopefully by raising awareness and YOU by being a hedgehog hero, who acts fast - we will continue to have patients that thrive.
Holly, the smallest hedgehog found, is now gaining the most. Her Hero was a lovely lady who found her at the local crematoria, of all places! Apparently she whipped off her jumper and bundled this little hedgehog into it, and stored in a shopping bag, as she dashed along to us, Totally burdened with ectoparasites, this wee one would never have survived. Her ticks were so bad, that they were weighed rather than counted - and many had to be done by our vets, whilst she was sedated rather than put stress onto her little form. Today she has more than doubled her weight, and although still being treated for internal parasites her weight has now tipped over the 400 gram mark, so we have high hopes.
Also, a quick word, slightly off topic. To you, my dear reader - I raise my glass to you. For some have become Hedgehog Hero's and those of you I have have had the honour to meet, seem to be the nicest bunch of people. I will do all I can, so you can continue to keep your eyes peeled for those hogs in need of help. Thank you, for caring, thank you for sharing - but most important of all- They can't say it, but the Hedgehogs are grateful to you for giving them a chance.
Merry Christmas!
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Started on New Years day by getting Blitzen out into Hog-monceux medical room, the purpose adapted and well insulated shed. No sooner was he happily settled in an adapted rabbit cage (straw nesting area and separate food area) than Donna was following suit.
Only a weeks rest and the next two were fighting it out to see who would reach the magic weight and maintain it for three days - do that, and they're off outside.
Due to the urgency, it seemed worthwhile buying a couple of "hedgehog hutches" off of amazon. Not quiet such a good idea! When they arrived, which was quick - we couldn't believe someone could actually claim they were safe - the wire was stapled on the inside of the door - meaning the poor hedgehog could catch its nose easily on such a silly design. No hinges, the doors operate on a screw! in fact there was only 6 screws in the entire hutch. Two for the latches and others for the doors - the rest was stapled together.
Super hubby to the rescue! Firstly, he turned the door around so the wire was on the outside, then he built a second roof by un-stapling the top, this immediately provided a better height for nesting, at the same time he built a frame for the lid, so we have hinges on the top for easy access, when cleaning. The original divider was so insecure we just tapped it out. Instead a purpose built thick nesting box was added, which can only be removed from the roof.
Then to finish off a layer of foam was fitted to the base and the original roof piece was then added to the bottom, providing more insulation and warmth.
Before the month was out four hedgehogs had moved into the HMC Hogmonceux medical room.
Then by the 7th of February, after more medication, Buddy Holly and Vixen moved out there too.
The ICU remained still and quiet - for 24 hours.
Firstly, I'm on standby for a hog that didn't appear from Seaford. Fingers crossed he's okay, guessing he's gone into hibernation. Then I've been watching one of our hibernation hogs down in Hogingham - he appeared to limping quiet badly on the camera. So late one night, he got evicted from his safe house. Something I am loathe to do, I'd much rather wait til they are outside the house. Fortunately, this one didnt seem to mind. To my surprise when I got him indoors, it was Baloo. An old bully hog who's been visiting our garden on and off for the last two years, that we know of!
He's very easily identified because he is A dark blonde Hedgehog.
Baloo is still a European hedgehog but his skin pigmentation is different. As you can see, he has a pink nose. In fact, he's pink all over! He is not a true albino because he does not have red eyes and his spines are not white. He is also not fully blonde due to the darkness of his spines. Blonde hedgehogs are also known as leucistic hedgehogs, due to the absence of normal skin pigmentation. Such an unusual looking chap and friendly to a point. He does not seem to mind our attentions or having a bath (lots, he seems kind of greasy.) This is the first blonde hedgehog and we've had in to treat and I am told they are very rare in the wild.( I'd love to see an albino hedgehog too, I've only seen pictures online! ) We also know there is another pink nosed one in the area, who looks like a smaller version of this chap, we'd even nick named him mini me Baloo - time will tell if he's a dark blonde too!
Although, rare here, travel to the Channel Island of Alderney and around 40% of the hedgehogs are blonde! This is due to the lack of predators, over there they seem to have thrived!
October 2022
What on earth happened to this year? One moment we are happy in February looking forward to spring and the next thing, I'm looking at Autumn rolling in!
We flew through early spring, getting houses ready for Yule, Blitzen, Donna & Cupid, instead of making them from scratch I simply begged for some broken bedside cabinets at a local charity furniture store. Hubby ripped them apart and made a new houses for each of them! Meanwhile, Vixen and another hedgehog Storm were also ready to be released at nearby neighbours. Sometime in between Midnight appeared, yes dear reader at almost midnight hence the name! Then, just as we catch our breath Miranda and Odin needed some assistance. They both came from another rescue, which may seem odd - but any rescue worth its salt will know if you have too many animals in at once, something or someone will fail Mistakes and accidents happen. The rescuer is doing far too much to give each animal 100% of their time - and that's when we suddenly feel we have failed that one. Its not usually the case, at all - but we do have a habit of blaming ourselves. Any decent rescue would rather share the burden so they can concentrate on the ones that need the most help. Hence you may hear rescued from a rescue, which really means we are helping someone out.
My near neighbour and friend is turning into a valuable release site. She is knowledgeable enough to recognise when there's a problem, but more importantly I can trust her to look after someone who isn't on medication and just needs some tlc for a few days, prior to release.
Miranda came in with a breathing condition and the need for a heat pad and Odin came in, with three legs and the need for somewhere safe.
By April, many of our hogs were getting up from hibernation and most of our wintering ones were going home. Cupid from 497g to 1256g, Donna from 377g to 1059g, Yule from 320g to 1429g and dear Blitzen who came in at 453g and went home in one of the new houses at 1537g! All went home to their base in Polegate. They live in a lovely area near the churchyard, I was looking at one of the babies we had in this year, I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of Cupids!
We also decided to update our road sign, so that people can find us easier - a simple black hedgehog on a white reflective board, with a solar light angled on top does the job well. For some odd reason, that also made me want to re-paint one of our windows, downstairs - to hedgehogs of course!
Miss Prickles came in during April, what a gorgeous girl. A little dehydrated which was sorted immediately and many parasites. She instantly became Princess Pickle as she was such a cutie. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and one morning immediately after feeding she just passed away. I was heartbroken. It took me hours to summon up the courage to phone the owner. Stupid, I know, But, still to this day, I question myself on - what did I miss? Losing a hedgehogs in part of being a rescue. By the time we get to some of them the window for saving them has passed - but this year there is two that stick in my heart, Eve and Princess Pickle - both should of survived. Both were doing so well. Sudden deaths or losses are always the hardest. Jib-Jab also arrived in May, a sunny happy little hog who couldn't wait to get back home.
May arrived with Hagrid. Our first hedgehog in with Balloon syndrome. Balloon syndrome is a rare condition in hedgehogs in which gas is trapped under the skin as a result of injury or infection, causing the hedgehog to inflate. It is akin to surgical emphysema seen in humans, although somewhat more profound in hedgehogs due to their tissue structure. It is thought to be caused by a sudden blow to the hedgehog, such as a kick from a horse or human. Balloon syndrome is a life threatening condition, and without medical intervention the hedgehog will die of suffocation. Once I lifted this huge beautiful hedgehog out of his box, you could see the roundness. He was gassed up to such an extent that his spines were popping off. Typically, when you need a vet they are closed! Oh, I kid you not - animals do tend to be ill over weekends and at night, just like us humans but typically most vets only operate from 9 til 5 Monday to Friday. Now, our vet has a half day on a Saturday, which just happened to be the day this balloon hedgehog arrived. Its gone mid day, so I called another local vet - Asked the question "Have you operated on hedgehogs, I have one with balloon syndrome and he needs deflating" - The local vets in Battle admitted they hadn't, and I seriously value them, for their honesty. I'm seriously thinking of a three hour car drive to Vale. Its an emergency, so we hop in the car and head off up the road. Looking in the car park of my usual vets as we pass. Luck would have it, I spotted a car and we raced around the back with our emergency. I had the Vale first aid book with me and the vet just accepted us, with no questions asked about my going around the back! One x-ray several de-pumps and slowly some of the gas came out. Home for medications, but with the expectancy that it could and probably would gas up again. I was just praying it wouldn't be on the Sunday! Fortunately, the gods must have smiled and Hagrid, is still with us. He's lost weight from his largest point which was 2.3kg to a healthy, I can very almost curl at 1560g. Hagrid, are only Slimmer of the Year 2022 !
May and June bought more and more hogs to our door. Mrs Tiggywinkle from Peacehaven. Wanda from Sovereign Harbour, Jubilee from Polegate to name just a few. Our furthest being from near Chichester. This is also when the babies start arriving. Along with Good Omen, a hedgehog found on the beach! Yes, actually on the beach. Not sure of he just fancied a day at the seaside, it has been a rather hot summer in the year of 2022 but seriously, a hedgehog on the beach? Yes, one walking on the pebbles. He came in at 80g so probably around 2 maybe 3 weeks old. My husband, also went up to Tewkesbury to attend the Vale wildlife Hedgehog first aid and rehabilitation course - so now even our driver is qualified to help!
When one comes in, alone - I'm looking for another rescue that can take it on. Its not fair it being alone, it needs the body warmth of other baby hedgehogs to survive. Some rescues wont even talk to us, and can not be bothered to return our calls or emails. I find this so sad, as we should all be looking out for the animal first. I am not your competition, I'm someone else you can help or would offer you support. Think about that, the next time you wish you had a spare incubator! Others from further a field have been so much help.
Yet, more babies by July. I lost one, which someone found it weighed a mere 19g when it came in, this is a newborn. Blind, no hearing just white spikes and nothing else. Was it lost? Did mum kick it out of the nest? (In which case something is wrong with it and it doesn't matter what I do, it wont make it) so many unanswered questions.
Someone took their shed down and found hoglets - five. Put them in an incubator and fed them around the clock every two hours - none made it. Slowly, one by one they passed away. Others came in and have done really well, blossomed and are now outside or in the rehab area waiting to be released into the wild in a few days time. In between the babies was Mack from Marsden in Kent, Tilly from Crawley and Xena warrior Princess from Battle and Sonic from Hastings, who had been hit by a car and suffered with a broken pelvis and several leg fractures, another marvellous vet, Iain managed to amputate the leg and time healed the pelvis. Basil also arrived dehydrated and full of parasites. In August, things still weren't slowing, with Eve from Winchelsea, Hope, Rosemary and Marjoram all hoglets from Cooden. Eve, I bought back to life twice. CPR on route home and again at home. Slowly warming the hog up, using my body heat, four hours later and she's ready for the incubator and can go in with other hoglets near her size.
August arrived with the dreaded flystrike, several babies arrived. One had been seen for three days and each time I asked and even told the person to collect it and get this hog to me. Not always will someone listen, even when they have called to ask for advice.
A hedgehog simply does not sun bathe, my dear. You taking photos of it and sticking some dog meet under its nose is not going to help. You picked it up and put it under a bush. So you do not have to look at it. Its covered with flies, there's white grains of rice looking stuff all over it and still you do not call. If that had been a cat, you would of done something. Then you call a rescue on the third day... and unfortunately, you wont be the only one. Maggots are crawling out of its ears and its eyes are sunken because its so dehydrated, you think there's movement and only find yet another maggot. Maggots do not just eat some of the animal and fly away. They eat it from the inside out. Its awful. Horrific. No words can explain. So, IF YOU SEE A HEDGEHOG OUT IN THE DAY, CALL THE RESCUE RIGHT AWAY!. Oh, and put it in a box before you call. 'We have had many a call saying there's a hedgehog outside and then the caller finds it gone when they return to it!
By the tail end of September, and we are starting to slow down. Ell arrived from the local travel lodge, obviously couldn't get a room! Fillipe has arrived, a handsome loving hog, with a big heart and a lung condition, back to the vets we go! Sofia came in, but we put her outside in the sanctuary, not sure if she's pregnant or not, but don't want to take the chance so she can chill out there for a month before we let her go. OPPS!! THE SANCTUARY - dear reader. I almost forgot! We have fenced off an area in our walled garden and given it to the hedgehogs! Odin, Thor and Sonic are out there, the three tripod amigos along with Baloo whose resting pending retirement (in all honesty he'd been released once in the summer and returned limping within three days- maybe arthritis?) and Sofie, just in case she is pregnant! .(She was gaining double the amount of grams per night to everyone else so it is a possibility and as I didn't want her to give birth in captivity, we thought it best she bides her time in the sanctuary! DRP Fencing solutions did a fabulous job and some of the local community have been marvellous by donating some plants to the area.
Another month before the juvenile's are due in - the band of hoglets that just wont fatten up enough to cope with hibernation this year. Its going to be a cold one, so put extra food out - they all need it right now.
Now, we are in mid November and still Hoglets are coming in. At under 200g, there is no chance they will make it through the winter - not without help.
Started on New Years day by getting Blitzen out into Hog-monceux medical room, the purpose adapted and well insulated shed. No sooner was he happily settled in an adapted rabbit cage (straw nesting area and separate food area) than Donna was following suit.
Only a weeks rest and the next two were fighting it out to see who would reach the magic weight and maintain it for three days - do that, and they're off outside.
Due to the urgency, it seemed worthwhile buying a couple of "hedgehog hutches" off of amazon. Not quiet such a good idea! When they arrived, which was quick - we couldn't believe someone could actually claim they were safe - the wire was stapled on the inside of the door - meaning the poor hedgehog could catch its nose easily on such a silly design. No hinges, the doors operate on a screw! in fact there was only 6 screws in the entire hutch. Two for the latches and others for the doors - the rest was stapled together.
Super hubby to the rescue! Firstly, he turned the door around so the wire was on the outside, then he built a second roof by un-stapling the top, this immediately provided a better height for nesting, at the same time he built a frame for the lid, so we have hinges on the top for easy access, when cleaning. The original divider was so insecure we just tapped it out. Instead a purpose built thick nesting box was added, which can only be removed from the roof.
Then to finish off a layer of foam was fitted to the base and the original roof piece was then added to the bottom, providing more insulation and warmth.
Before the month was out four hedgehogs had moved into the HMC Hogmonceux medical room.
Then by the 7th of February, after more medication, Buddy Holly and Vixen moved out there too.
The ICU remained still and quiet - for 24 hours.
Firstly, I'm on standby for a hog that didn't appear from Seaford. Fingers crossed he's okay, guessing he's gone into hibernation. Then I've been watching one of our hibernation hogs down in Hogingham - he appeared to limping quiet badly on the camera. So late one night, he got evicted from his safe house. Something I am loathe to do, I'd much rather wait til they are outside the house. Fortunately, this one didnt seem to mind. To my surprise when I got him indoors, it was Baloo. An old bully hog who's been visiting our garden on and off for the last two years, that we know of!
He's very easily identified because he is A dark blonde Hedgehog.
Baloo is still a European hedgehog but his skin pigmentation is different. As you can see, he has a pink nose. In fact, he's pink all over! He is not a true albino because he does not have red eyes and his spines are not white. He is also not fully blonde due to the darkness of his spines. Blonde hedgehogs are also known as leucistic hedgehogs, due to the absence of normal skin pigmentation. Such an unusual looking chap and friendly to a point. He does not seem to mind our attentions or having a bath (lots, he seems kind of greasy.) This is the first blonde hedgehog and we've had in to treat and I am told they are very rare in the wild.( I'd love to see an albino hedgehog too, I've only seen pictures online! ) We also know there is another pink nosed one in the area, who looks like a smaller version of this chap, we'd even nick named him mini me Baloo - time will tell if he's a dark blonde too!
Although, rare here, travel to the Channel Island of Alderney and around 40% of the hedgehogs are blonde! This is due to the lack of predators, over there they seem to have thrived!
October 2022
What on earth happened to this year? One moment we are happy in February looking forward to spring and the next thing, I'm looking at Autumn rolling in!
We flew through early spring, getting houses ready for Yule, Blitzen, Donna & Cupid, instead of making them from scratch I simply begged for some broken bedside cabinets at a local charity furniture store. Hubby ripped them apart and made a new houses for each of them! Meanwhile, Vixen and another hedgehog Storm were also ready to be released at nearby neighbours. Sometime in between Midnight appeared, yes dear reader at almost midnight hence the name! Then, just as we catch our breath Miranda and Odin needed some assistance. They both came from another rescue, which may seem odd - but any rescue worth its salt will know if you have too many animals in at once, something or someone will fail Mistakes and accidents happen. The rescuer is doing far too much to give each animal 100% of their time - and that's when we suddenly feel we have failed that one. Its not usually the case, at all - but we do have a habit of blaming ourselves. Any decent rescue would rather share the burden so they can concentrate on the ones that need the most help. Hence you may hear rescued from a rescue, which really means we are helping someone out.
My near neighbour and friend is turning into a valuable release site. She is knowledgeable enough to recognise when there's a problem, but more importantly I can trust her to look after someone who isn't on medication and just needs some tlc for a few days, prior to release.
Miranda came in with a breathing condition and the need for a heat pad and Odin came in, with three legs and the need for somewhere safe.
By April, many of our hogs were getting up from hibernation and most of our wintering ones were going home. Cupid from 497g to 1256g, Donna from 377g to 1059g, Yule from 320g to 1429g and dear Blitzen who came in at 453g and went home in one of the new houses at 1537g! All went home to their base in Polegate. They live in a lovely area near the churchyard, I was looking at one of the babies we had in this year, I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of Cupids!
We also decided to update our road sign, so that people can find us easier - a simple black hedgehog on a white reflective board, with a solar light angled on top does the job well. For some odd reason, that also made me want to re-paint one of our windows, downstairs - to hedgehogs of course!
Miss Prickles came in during April, what a gorgeous girl. A little dehydrated which was sorted immediately and many parasites. She instantly became Princess Pickle as she was such a cutie. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and one morning immediately after feeding she just passed away. I was heartbroken. It took me hours to summon up the courage to phone the owner. Stupid, I know, But, still to this day, I question myself on - what did I miss? Losing a hedgehogs in part of being a rescue. By the time we get to some of them the window for saving them has passed - but this year there is two that stick in my heart, Eve and Princess Pickle - both should of survived. Both were doing so well. Sudden deaths or losses are always the hardest. Jib-Jab also arrived in May, a sunny happy little hog who couldn't wait to get back home.
May arrived with Hagrid. Our first hedgehog in with Balloon syndrome. Balloon syndrome is a rare condition in hedgehogs in which gas is trapped under the skin as a result of injury or infection, causing the hedgehog to inflate. It is akin to surgical emphysema seen in humans, although somewhat more profound in hedgehogs due to their tissue structure. It is thought to be caused by a sudden blow to the hedgehog, such as a kick from a horse or human. Balloon syndrome is a life threatening condition, and without medical intervention the hedgehog will die of suffocation. Once I lifted this huge beautiful hedgehog out of his box, you could see the roundness. He was gassed up to such an extent that his spines were popping off. Typically, when you need a vet they are closed! Oh, I kid you not - animals do tend to be ill over weekends and at night, just like us humans but typically most vets only operate from 9 til 5 Monday to Friday. Now, our vet has a half day on a Saturday, which just happened to be the day this balloon hedgehog arrived. Its gone mid day, so I called another local vet - Asked the question "Have you operated on hedgehogs, I have one with balloon syndrome and he needs deflating" - The local vets in Battle admitted they hadn't, and I seriously value them, for their honesty. I'm seriously thinking of a three hour car drive to Vale. Its an emergency, so we hop in the car and head off up the road. Looking in the car park of my usual vets as we pass. Luck would have it, I spotted a car and we raced around the back with our emergency. I had the Vale first aid book with me and the vet just accepted us, with no questions asked about my going around the back! One x-ray several de-pumps and slowly some of the gas came out. Home for medications, but with the expectancy that it could and probably would gas up again. I was just praying it wouldn't be on the Sunday! Fortunately, the gods must have smiled and Hagrid, is still with us. He's lost weight from his largest point which was 2.3kg to a healthy, I can very almost curl at 1560g. Hagrid, are only Slimmer of the Year 2022 !
May and June bought more and more hogs to our door. Mrs Tiggywinkle from Peacehaven. Wanda from Sovereign Harbour, Jubilee from Polegate to name just a few. Our furthest being from near Chichester. This is also when the babies start arriving. Along with Good Omen, a hedgehog found on the beach! Yes, actually on the beach. Not sure of he just fancied a day at the seaside, it has been a rather hot summer in the year of 2022 but seriously, a hedgehog on the beach? Yes, one walking on the pebbles. He came in at 80g so probably around 2 maybe 3 weeks old. My husband, also went up to Tewkesbury to attend the Vale wildlife Hedgehog first aid and rehabilitation course - so now even our driver is qualified to help!
When one comes in, alone - I'm looking for another rescue that can take it on. Its not fair it being alone, it needs the body warmth of other baby hedgehogs to survive. Some rescues wont even talk to us, and can not be bothered to return our calls or emails. I find this so sad, as we should all be looking out for the animal first. I am not your competition, I'm someone else you can help or would offer you support. Think about that, the next time you wish you had a spare incubator! Others from further a field have been so much help.
Yet, more babies by July. I lost one, which someone found it weighed a mere 19g when it came in, this is a newborn. Blind, no hearing just white spikes and nothing else. Was it lost? Did mum kick it out of the nest? (In which case something is wrong with it and it doesn't matter what I do, it wont make it) so many unanswered questions.
Someone took their shed down and found hoglets - five. Put them in an incubator and fed them around the clock every two hours - none made it. Slowly, one by one they passed away. Others came in and have done really well, blossomed and are now outside or in the rehab area waiting to be released into the wild in a few days time. In between the babies was Mack from Marsden in Kent, Tilly from Crawley and Xena warrior Princess from Battle and Sonic from Hastings, who had been hit by a car and suffered with a broken pelvis and several leg fractures, another marvellous vet, Iain managed to amputate the leg and time healed the pelvis. Basil also arrived dehydrated and full of parasites. In August, things still weren't slowing, with Eve from Winchelsea, Hope, Rosemary and Marjoram all hoglets from Cooden. Eve, I bought back to life twice. CPR on route home and again at home. Slowly warming the hog up, using my body heat, four hours later and she's ready for the incubator and can go in with other hoglets near her size.
August arrived with the dreaded flystrike, several babies arrived. One had been seen for three days and each time I asked and even told the person to collect it and get this hog to me. Not always will someone listen, even when they have called to ask for advice.
A hedgehog simply does not sun bathe, my dear. You taking photos of it and sticking some dog meet under its nose is not going to help. You picked it up and put it under a bush. So you do not have to look at it. Its covered with flies, there's white grains of rice looking stuff all over it and still you do not call. If that had been a cat, you would of done something. Then you call a rescue on the third day... and unfortunately, you wont be the only one. Maggots are crawling out of its ears and its eyes are sunken because its so dehydrated, you think there's movement and only find yet another maggot. Maggots do not just eat some of the animal and fly away. They eat it from the inside out. Its awful. Horrific. No words can explain. So, IF YOU SEE A HEDGEHOG OUT IN THE DAY, CALL THE RESCUE RIGHT AWAY!. Oh, and put it in a box before you call. 'We have had many a call saying there's a hedgehog outside and then the caller finds it gone when they return to it!
By the tail end of September, and we are starting to slow down. Ell arrived from the local travel lodge, obviously couldn't get a room! Fillipe has arrived, a handsome loving hog, with a big heart and a lung condition, back to the vets we go! Sofia came in, but we put her outside in the sanctuary, not sure if she's pregnant or not, but don't want to take the chance so she can chill out there for a month before we let her go. OPPS!! THE SANCTUARY - dear reader. I almost forgot! We have fenced off an area in our walled garden and given it to the hedgehogs! Odin, Thor and Sonic are out there, the three tripod amigos along with Baloo whose resting pending retirement (in all honesty he'd been released once in the summer and returned limping within three days- maybe arthritis?) and Sofie, just in case she is pregnant! .(She was gaining double the amount of grams per night to everyone else so it is a possibility and as I didn't want her to give birth in captivity, we thought it best she bides her time in the sanctuary! DRP Fencing solutions did a fabulous job and some of the local community have been marvellous by donating some plants to the area.
Another month before the juvenile's are due in - the band of hoglets that just wont fatten up enough to cope with hibernation this year. Its going to be a cold one, so put extra food out - they all need it right now.
Now, we are in mid November and still Hoglets are coming in. At under 200g, there is no chance they will make it through the winter - not without help.
2025 Hedgehog Rescue in full swing.
The years have passed and still we rescue the Hedgehogs helping where we can. Our local vet must be paying at least one part time staff wage on the amount that our annual vets bill tots up too! On an average now of over 200 Hedgehogs a year that we release into the wild. Kate still comes six times a month to help, Maggie, another volunteer is here every Wednesday, and Bev manages a monthly visit too. Tess visits and helps whenever she can, but she's busy at work and has taken on a huge project of creating a wildlife haven complete with wildlife pond, I know where there's going to be a Hedgehog retirement home one day!. I actually took time off for my birthday this year - did the Hedgehogs in the morning, left at lunchtime, Tess came in and did the evening feeds and I watched Maggie arrive the following morning and our son Kallum, had already started the cleaning. I was home that evening to finish off and honestly it really was a break.
In reflection, last year (2024) with much help from followers donating funds we purchased a Ultrasound, This was due to the amount of pregnant females we had in during 2024. Its tricky to begin with but with some helpful pointers from the vet, we have successfully manage to change the care of one Hedgehog so far, already. This year, with donations all ready given we managed to afford a red light therapy unit which will help wounds heal faster and ringworm to be cured a bit quicker - anything, that will shorten the stay of hedgehog, will reduce the stress of captivity so it must be a good thing.
Our annual calendars sold out fast this year - the advantages of releasing them early. On top of that I was making suncatcher and Christmas tree decorations, featuring Hedgehogs and other wildlife, so that helped pay for some winter food. There was 35 in on Christmas day, and now, six months later its actually quietened off a wee bit.
We have moved the shed in hopes of starting the ground work for the hogspital - however, looking at the ridiculous quotations, it may be seriously easier to move and just pay for it ourselves. We will see, there's other things going on at the moment, so we will just continue where we can.
Apologies for not keeping up with the Hog Log, life is full and Hedgehogs keep us busy!
In reflection, last year (2024) with much help from followers donating funds we purchased a Ultrasound, This was due to the amount of pregnant females we had in during 2024. Its tricky to begin with but with some helpful pointers from the vet, we have successfully manage to change the care of one Hedgehog so far, already. This year, with donations all ready given we managed to afford a red light therapy unit which will help wounds heal faster and ringworm to be cured a bit quicker - anything, that will shorten the stay of hedgehog, will reduce the stress of captivity so it must be a good thing.
Our annual calendars sold out fast this year - the advantages of releasing them early. On top of that I was making suncatcher and Christmas tree decorations, featuring Hedgehogs and other wildlife, so that helped pay for some winter food. There was 35 in on Christmas day, and now, six months later its actually quietened off a wee bit.
We have moved the shed in hopes of starting the ground work for the hogspital - however, looking at the ridiculous quotations, it may be seriously easier to move and just pay for it ourselves. We will see, there's other things going on at the moment, so we will just continue where we can.
Apologies for not keeping up with the Hog Log, life is full and Hedgehogs keep us busy!
2026 Help4Hedgehogs rescue, plans.
THE GREAT HEDGEHOG GAP YEAR: A RETIREMENT PLAN FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN’T SIT STILL
After a lot of careful thinking, planning, re‑planning, overthinking, and staring at the ceiling at 3am wondering why life is like this, we have decided…
to sell our house.
Yes.
The Hedgehog Empire.
The Spike‑Topian Kingdom.
Hedgingham‑on‑Sea.
Going on the market.
But fear not — we’re not quitting hedgehog rescue.
We’re just taking a break.
A gap year for oldies.
Like teenagers backpacking around Europe, except with more joint pain and a mobile home full of medical supplies.
After six years without a holiday, we’ve realised something important:
we are tired.
Not “ooh I could do with a nap” tired.
More like “if I sit down for too long I might fossilise” tired.
And if we need a break, then so do all the other solo hedgehog rescuers out there — the ones who haven’t had a day off since 2014 and think “self‑care” means buying a new pair of rubber gloves.
So here’s the plan:
We’re going to rock up to other rescues in our mobile home like some kind of travelling hedgehog paramedics.
We’ll learn their routines, meet their vets, figure out where they keep the good biscuits, and then — the best bit --
we’ll let them take their holiday.
Yes.
We will literally turn up and say:
“Go. Leave. Run. We’ve got this.
Your hedgehogs are safe.
Go stare at a beach or a mountain or a wall. Anything.”
A roaming hedgehog rescue relief service.
Like the AA, but for spiky woodland potatoes.
Meanwhile, we’ll eventually find somewhere new to live and set up a fresh rescue — hopefully in the same area, unless the universe decides to be dramatic again.
But we’re not expecting to move quickly.
When we bought this place, it had been on the market for three years, which is basically the property equivalent of being left on “read”.
So until someone falls in love with our hedgehog‑enhanced home, it’s business as usual:
feeding, cleaning, rescuing, medicating, CCTV‑stalking, and trying to convince hedgehogs that we are not, in fact, terrifying giants in rubber gloves.!
After a lot of careful thinking, planning, re‑planning, overthinking, and staring at the ceiling at 3am wondering why life is like this, we have decided…
to sell our house.
Yes.
The Hedgehog Empire.
The Spike‑Topian Kingdom.
Hedgingham‑on‑Sea.
Going on the market.
But fear not — we’re not quitting hedgehog rescue.
We’re just taking a break.
A gap year for oldies.
Like teenagers backpacking around Europe, except with more joint pain and a mobile home full of medical supplies.
After six years without a holiday, we’ve realised something important:
we are tired.
Not “ooh I could do with a nap” tired.
More like “if I sit down for too long I might fossilise” tired.
And if we need a break, then so do all the other solo hedgehog rescuers out there — the ones who haven’t had a day off since 2014 and think “self‑care” means buying a new pair of rubber gloves.
So here’s the plan:
We’re going to rock up to other rescues in our mobile home like some kind of travelling hedgehog paramedics.
We’ll learn their routines, meet their vets, figure out where they keep the good biscuits, and then — the best bit --
we’ll let them take their holiday.
Yes.
We will literally turn up and say:
“Go. Leave. Run. We’ve got this.
Your hedgehogs are safe.
Go stare at a beach or a mountain or a wall. Anything.”
A roaming hedgehog rescue relief service.
Like the AA, but for spiky woodland potatoes.
Meanwhile, we’ll eventually find somewhere new to live and set up a fresh rescue — hopefully in the same area, unless the universe decides to be dramatic again.
But we’re not expecting to move quickly.
When we bought this place, it had been on the market for three years, which is basically the property equivalent of being left on “read”.
So until someone falls in love with our hedgehog‑enhanced home, it’s business as usual:
feeding, cleaning, rescuing, medicating, CCTV‑stalking, and trying to convince hedgehogs that we are not, in fact, terrifying giants in rubber gloves.!