What to do right now if you've found a hedgehog that needs help.
Use gardening gloves or a thick towel. Their spines won't break the skin through gloves. They may curl into a ball, which is normal.
If it looks injured, wobbly, or is lying on its side, it needs rescuing. If it's just crossing a road at night, move it to the side it was heading towards and let it go.
A cardboard box or plastic storage tub works well. Line the bottom with a towel or newspaper. The sides need to be high enough that the hedgehog can't climb out.
Add a shallow dish of water. Never give a hedgehog milk or bread. If you have meaty cat or dog food, put a small amount in the box.
Fill a hot water bottle or a drinks bottle with warm (not boiling) water, wrap it in a towel, and place it in one end of the box. The hedgehog needs to be able to move away from the heat source if it gets too warm.
Keep the box indoors, somewhere quiet and away from pets and children. Cover the top loosely with a towel to keep it dark and calm.
Call us on 07824 360 458 or message us on Facebook Messenger. Tell us where you found it, what condition it's in, and pop it on kitchen scales if you can.
We're available Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and weekends 10am-3pm. We'll arrange to take the hedgehog in, or if we're at capacity, we'll point you to another rescue that can help.
If it's badly injured and you can't reach us, take it to any vet. Vets treat wildlife for free under their duty of care. You can also ring the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890 801 for advice.
Not sure whether the hedgehog you've found needs rescuing? Here are the signs to look for.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal. One out in daylight is almost always in trouble. The exception is when a hedgehog is moving with a purpose, for example a hedgehog carrying nesting materials in her mouth could be an expectant mum or a new mum. If in doubt, message us.
A hedgehog that can't walk in a straight line, is dragging itself, or keeps falling over is likely sick, dehydrated or poisoned.
A hedgehog lying flat and not curling up is in serious distress. It needs immediate help. Don't wait to see if it recovers.
Cuts, open wounds, missing spines, or fly eggs (small white clusters) on the skin all need urgent attention. Fly eggs mean flystrike, which kills fast. Strimmer injuries are sadly common. Don't wait.
A hedgehog weighing under 450g in late autumn is unlikely to survive hibernation without help. If it looks around the size of an apple or smaller, it probably needs rescuing.
Garden netting, football nets and fruit cage mesh trap hedgehogs regularly. Don't pull the netting, as it cuts into the skin. Cut it free carefully and bring the hedgehog in with the netting still attached. Even if it seems fine once free, it still needs checking. Constriction damage shows up days later.
Baby hedgehogs (hoglets) out of the nest or squeaking loudly are calling for their mother. Don't touch the nest. Watch from a distance for an hour or two. If the mother doesn't return, or the hoglets are wandering in daylight, message us before intervening.
If you've followed the steps above and have a hedgehog that needs help, get in touch. We're available Monday to Friday 9am-4pm and weekends 10am-3pm.
Simple changes to your garden can prevent hedgehog injuries and give them safe places to nest, feed and hibernate.
How to Help