Woodlands Animal Sanctuary

People seem more aware of wildlife needs due to programmes such as autumn watch;
because of this we are have had many hedgehogs brought here needing special care,
over 50 in September alone !

This is putting a huge demand on our resources and we urgently need more
supplies of good quality meat flavoured catfood and funding towards our
heating bills if we are to continue. Please help if you can.

Below is Advise if you find a hedgehog out in the day, too small from October onwards (Minimum 600gms)
or in obvious trouble.

Being strictly a nocturnal animal, any hedgehog found out during daylight hours will almost certainly have a problem, though not always apparent.
Please do not leave it unattended. Here is what to do:

	First pick it up by slipping your fingers under its tummy, or place a towel over it and put it into a deep sided cardboard or plastic box.
	Fill a bottle ( Old drinks bottle or hot water bottle) with warm-to hot water and place under an old towel or jumper in the bottom of the box, please ensure it does not burn.
	Put the hedgehog on or close to the heat source and cover with another towel. It is essential to get the hedgehogs body temperature up to somewhere near normal, otherwise its body functions will rapidly deteriorate.
	Having done this, find a secluded area indoors which is warm and dry,NOW CALL SOMEONE TO HELP YOU You can contact us on 01704 823293 or contact the Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801 who will give you the number of the nearest carer.
	Do not however watch the hedgehog over a number of days to see if it recovers as it may be then too late to treat it properly. keeping children and other animals away .noise or disturbance will stress the hedgehog further.

If you choose to help your resident hedgehogs
NEVER give milk or bread but provide clean drinking water
and wet or dry cat or dog food {NO FISH}.
Please check garden ponds have an escape route
{Hedgehogs are good swimmers as long as they can get out}
and be careful when disturbing leaf piles and compost heaps.

Last year we took 2 mothers with hoglets under 2 weeks old,
one from a garden where the owners accidentally raked them
across the lawn and destroyed their nest and one that the family dog dug up.
We were delighted they all survived and were released back to the wild here
where we provide a food supply every night in case of hard times.
If you accidently damage or disturb a nest DO NOT Handle the
babies