After Corey shared his story of his hedgehog experience in Hungary I thought you may like to see some rather adorable pictures of a young European Hedgehog in England.
It appears that hedgehog numbers in the UK have dropped by 25% in the last 10 years, so every hedgehog that can be saved is extremely worthwhile. Sadly you do tend to see more roadkill hedgehogs than hedgehogs enjoying the countryside.
My parents live on the east coast of the UK and see hedgehogs quite regularly due to the fact that they live in a small country village. Friends of theirs had an encounter with a young hedgehog in June and have kindly given permission for their pictures to be used on 10,000 Birds.
The young hedgehog was first observed in the middle of their lawn on a hot day and they were not sure if it was alive. When they observed movement as it breathed they brought it inside and as it cooled it became more active. It had not opened its eyes yet, which apparently indicates it is less than 14 weeks old. They are also unable to hear until they are 10 weeks old and due to the fact that it didn’t respond to sound it was likely to be only 8 weeks old.
They took it to the Blue Cross Hospital and it responded well to treatment and after just over a week it was taken to the RSPCA as they have more resources for looking after hedgehogs. They released the hedgehog onto the countryside in Lincolnshire.
Mike’s pictures of the young European Hedgehog
My parents have them hiding in their garden sometimes and occasionally they are out in the open on dusk.
My parent’s pictures of their visiting hedgehog
So, if you find a hedgehog that needs help you can call on one of many volunteers who are helping to look after this precious little animal. It would be such a shame to only see them in children’s story books in the future.
That is a very adorable baby hedgehog! I agree, they shouldn’t only be seen in Beatrix Potter books.