Herts Hogline - September's Cause of the Month

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Posted on September 1st, 2019 by Nina Chinsky

Herts Hogline was set up around twenty years ago. We care for sick and injured hedgehogs with the aim of returning them to the wild. We also provide advice and encourage people to make their gardens a hedgehog haven.

Herts hogline

If you wish to help support your local hedgehog population here are our top tips:

  • Install a hedgehog home
  • Create a hedgehog feeding station and leave in it cat/dog food or hedgehog food and water
  • Make holes at ground level in your fence (13cm x 13cm)
  • Have more green than concrete, with lots of low hanging bushes etc.

 

You can also support them by making your garden safe by:

  • Making sure your pond has a shallow area or an escape ramp
  • Checking long grass and under bushes before using a strimmer
  • Pegging netting 15cm up from the ground, so a hedgehog doesn’t get caught
  • Taking care with bonfires – make on the day or relocate before lighting
  • Find and use alternatives to chemical based slug pellets and insecticide

We also provide advice to the public about when and how to help hedgehogs who have got into a spot of bother or are unwell. We typically advise that they need help when they are:

  • Screaming, running in circles or are wobbling when they walk
  • Visibly injured
  • Caught or trapped
  • Out during the day, especially if they are lying on their side and being buzzed by flies
  • Have bald patches
  • Small (especially if chirping)
  • Large fist sized or smaller after September (600g or less)

 

It’s also important to know when not to help. Our advice is that if a hedgehog is out during the day, looking busy carrying grass and leaves, then this is a female nest building. So, just keep an eye on her and enjoy watching her.

Lastly this is the advice we give on how to help when you find a hedgehog in trouble:

  • Put on a pair of gloves and pick up. If you don’t have gloves, then drape a towel over the hedgehog and scoop up
  • Place in a high sided container with a towel to snuggle into
  • Provide food (meat-based cat or dog food) and water
  • If the hedgehog is small or cold and has no open wounds, then provide direct heat with a covered hot water bottle.
  • Keep indoors to ensure it’s safe whilst you find help.

If you’d like to keep up-to-date with our news, then please follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hertshogline

If you wish to contact us, then email us at: help@hertshogline.com

Lastly, we are very small, so sadly can only cover a 15-mile radius from Stansted Airport. However, if you email us, we have set up an auto-reply that lists local hedgehog friendly vets (it’s best to contact them first in an emergency) and other hedgehog rescues.

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