Not all hedgehogs hibernate if weather is mild & food plentiful but, those that do will often wake during milder periods to search for food that often isn't
 there.They will use up valueable & limited fat reserves but you can help by making sure there is always a fresh plate of cat biscuits & a fresh shallow
 dish of drinking water available.
An adult hedgehog has approx 5-7000 spines on average which are each about 1" long.It's natural defence mechanism is to roll into a ball with the
 exception of some who will just freeze. It will not run away when in danger and will take whatever comes it's way such as GARDEN STRIMMERS 
and FORKS/ SPADES   
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and not normally seen OUT DURING DAYLIGHT. Should you see a hedgehog of any size out during daylight or
which appears to be ill,injured or orphaned at anytime,please contain it in a high sided box and seek urgent advice. An average litter is between 2-6
.Gestation is approx 32-37days.Hedgehogs are meat eaters The British Hedgehog is an endangered species and could be extinct in 15 years
 time.
Some hogs have fleas but these are unique to the hedgehog and will not live on our pets. NEVER USE CAT OR DOG FLEA TREATMENTS on a
 hedgehog.Ticks can make a hog very poorly & even cause death.They need to be removed but please do not attempt this yourself.If the mouth
 part isn't removed it will cause infection.Ticks can be white,brown or grey in appearance & look like ballbearings or baked beans.They can be large or
 small.
Hoglets are born with eyes and ears closed & with flat white spines.The white spines start to push through after a couple of hours. At about 36hrs some
 of the dark spines are visible becoming more so at about 48hrs.Eyes start to open at approx12-13days & are fully open by 14days which is also when
 they begin to hear.
At around three weeks the front teeth start to break through.Hoglets will start to come out of the nest to feed with mum from about 4wks old & leave the
 nest at approx 8wks old. Hedgehogs have a small tail & their underside is soft & furry.
If you have STEPS  in your garden you could build them up to make them shallower with house bricks old tiles or similar in the event that a hoglet
should fall down them and not be able to get back up to mum who will return to her nest without it.A hedgehog can live for up to 10yrs of age but
  probably will not.Hedgehogs are good swimmers & can climb.They cannot eat or drink when they are cold. PLEASE help towards saving this
 prickly & adorable species of British wildlife.Please see garden dangers page for advice on providing a basic hedgehog feeding station.A hog that
is sick/injured or orphaned will more than likely be dehydrated & cold It will need urgent life saving fluids & possibly medication.The sooner the hog
 receives this the better it's chances of recovery/survival.Please do not warm the hog other than using towels & or newsppers & placing in a sheltered
area if it has fly eggs or maggots
otherwise you can place a luke warm(not hot) water bottle wrapped in a towel and place under the hog.FLY EGGS LOOK LIKE TINY GRAINS OF
RICE & ARE USUALLY LAID IN CLUSTERS.They could be anywhere on the body or inside any or all of it's cavaties.ANY Hedgehog seen
out during daylight is likely to need urgent attention. Many hedgehogs are disturbed from their winter hibernation by us when gardening. Please
 take extra care when gardening especially when using
STRIMMERS and GARDEN FORKS/SPADES. Hedgehogs love pampass grasses, please check yours before cutting down or burning.They also
 love a wood or log pile,please make sure this will not collapse on them should  they choose this for their home. Should you accidentally disturb or
injure a hog please contact a carer for advice. if the injury is severe, please take immediately to a vet who will give emergency treatment after which a
 carer can be found.I will be happy to answer any questions & give advice should you need it.
In warm weather hedgehogs are vulnerable to fly strike.The flies will lay eggs on the hog which in turn develop into maggots which burrow into all
cavities of the hog who is then eaten alive.Fly eggs can hatch within TWO hrs with heat.Hedgehogs may be very wobbly on their feet when cold &
may be seen sunbathing.Hedgehogs do not sunbathe but do this to try and warm their desperatley cold bodies.They will be in urgent need of help.
If you would like to donate to mhr,Welcome donations can include good quality tinned pet food,cat or kitten biscuits,plates/saucers,hay, straw, hand
hygiene gel, sterilising fluids, washing up liquid ,Bin bags,Kitchen rolls & if you so wish financial donations by cheque to Malvern Hedgehog Rescue
or the PayPal Donate button on the login or homepage,You do not need a PayPal account to make a donation.Please email or telephone for postal
details.

  Thankyou to all who have supported mhr.
Your kind support is what enables me to care effectively for the hogs that
come in to care at mhr. 
Below (left & centre) are some of the creams,lotions & medicines used to treat hedgehogs that
  come into care & include Antibiotics,Wormers & Pain killers.   Picture Below
  Hedgehog Poo

  Contact mhr by email       
 
 
 
   
 
 
 

There are many expenses involved with hedgehog rescue as well as basic food & vital medicications such as hypodermic needles,syringes,microscope slides & cover slips,saline solution,washing up liquid,washing powder,Veterinary bills, fuel expense when collecting or returning hedgehogs,Annual website & Public insurance renewal , a very much larger than average electric bill & industrial wheelie bin rental (hedgehogs generate tonnes of refuge from bedding etc)& regular top up of top soil for the many outdoor pre release enclosures.
Caring for hedgehogs is time consuming & involves,Monitoring,Cleaning out at least once daily,Feeding,medicating,weighing at least once daily,Record keeping,washing up,washing,shopping & sometimes collecting or delivering.Very sick,injured or orphaned hedgehogs often need syringe feeding.
All hedgehogs are tested for internal parasites with fecal samples under the microscope before commencement of treatment.It is important to treat each condition with the correct medication in order to treat effectively.

Contact mhr by email

Or Tel 07780 834411

mhr recently admitted an adult male hedgehog.The finders had been out for the afternoon leaving their three dogs to excercise in their garden.The hedgehog was attacked by the dog(s) & required veterinary treatment.His injury was sutured the following morning.He received a course of antibiotics & has now made a full recovery.mhr incurred a veterinary bill of almost £50.00 for this hog alone.The dogs owners,although asked,have not contributed towards this cost.Due to the time of year & present weather conditions he will remain in care until spring 2012 & is currently in an outdoor pre release enclosure.He will be monitored throughout winter.