Hedgehogs in distress

It's great that people want to help hedgehogs, though it's really important to make sure that a hog needs help before intervening. It's very easy for people's good intentions to cause harm.

How to tell if a hedgehog is in distress

Some signs that are a hedgehog is in need of help are:

• If it's out in the day and lethargic.

• If there are a lot of flies around it.

• If it is wobbly when it's walking.

• If it if obviously wounded or injured.

• If it is caught in netting, ponds, drains, etc.

• If it's a hoglet and out during the day and/or squawking it may be lost. If possible, watch it for a while to see if mum comes back. If she doesn't, the hoglet needs rescuing.

If you find a hedgehog in distress please contact us and/or check out the BHPS page.

False distress signs

Every year lots of hedgehogs are unnecessarily rescued. Even though is is done with the best intention it is stressful and can be harmful to the hedgehog. Here are some common myths - please check these before trying to rescue a hedgehog. 

Out during the day

Even though hedgehogs are nocturnal, there can be good reason why they are out in the day and not in distress.

• Females may be about to forage and collect nesting materials - especially when the nights are very short in early summer.

• Any hedgehog may have had it's nest disturbed and be moving to a new nest. This can include mothers carrying young one by one to a new nest.

If you see a hedgehog out during the day try to watch it from a safe distance. If it’s moving purposefully, or carrying nesting materials and appears well, leave it alone. If you're unsure contact us or the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for advice.

Out in winter or in bad weather

Hedgehogs can hibernate from mid-October through to mid-April, however they may not always be in hibernation for all of this period due to a number of factors. Declining food is a trigger for hibernation, so a well fed hedgehog will hibernate later, and a mild winter will increase the amount of food available. Most hedgehogs will also come out of hibernation for a couple of days at a time over winter to feed.

Hedgehogs, like all wild animals, are designed to be outside in all weathers. 'Rescuing' them because it's cold or raining will do them more harm than good. 

Under weight

The current evidence is that a hedgehog in the wild can survive hibernation as long as it weighs 450g or more. A hedgehog weighing over 450g should not be rescued on the basis of weight alone (other factors such as walking in a wobbly manor may suggest rescue is needed). So please don't go round grabbing hedgehogs to weigh them - it will cause them huge stress and is not a good indicator that a hog needs help.

Hoglets unattended in a nest

There can be perfectly innocent reasons why hedgehogs are unattended in a nest. Most commonly the mother is getting food or is moving to a new nest. If moving to a new nest the mother will carry the hoglets one by one to the new nest. Do not 'rescue' hoglets from a nest unless you are certain they have been abandoned. The best way of checking if they have been abandoned is to watch the nest from as far away as possible and wait for the month to come back.

In the road

We know that roads are not safe for hedgehogs, but if there is a road in the hog's territory there's nothing we can do about it. You can move the hedgehog to the side of the road (remember to wear gloves or otherwise protect yourself from touching the hedgehog), but please don't take it to a rescue.