April 2022
Clifford......
'Clifford' was found lying by the side of a road in Out Rawcliffe. He was icy cold and in a poor state. He was made safe and warm in an incubator but the prognosis sadly was not looking good.
I noticed Clifford appeared to be missing a front leg. Unfortunately this usually means euthanasia, as a missing front leg can cause so many problems in the wild it is kinder to put the hedgehog to sleep. It had me wondering how on earth had he managed to get around and survive. On closer inspection I discovered the missing leg wasn't the result of a trauma accident in the wild, which is usually the case. Clifford had a very short stump with what look like two tiny claws on the end of it, something I have never seen before in over 30 years of rescue work. So his missing leg was actually a birth deformity. How he had survived like this was a miracle. His condition improved a little but he was not eating, so was initially syringe fed high calorie food. I have a large release garden lined up for him when he is ready. There are nest boxes there and food will be left out for the hedgehogs every evening, so life for him will be a little easier.
Jake......
'Jake' arrived after being rescued from a garden in Poulton after he was found lying in the sun. A word to the wise - hedgehogs do not sunbathe. If found lying in the sun the hedgehog is ill and is desperately trying to raise its body temperature. Jake barely weighs 400gms, is icy cold and severely dehydrated. Receiving emergency care.
Bert......
Admitted was 'Bert', found out during the daytime in a local garden. He is another one coming in dehydrated and icy cold. Now safe and warm, receiving subcutaneous drip fluids but he is very poorly.
Update: After receiving necessary treatment for an overload of internal parasites, Bert's condition began to improve. He was syringe fed high calorie food to begin with, until he began eating for himself and putting on weight. Bert was eventually released into a safe release garden on 13th May 2022.