All year round the GSPCA help hedgehogs as they struggle to hibernate due to our mild winter temperatures.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Hedgehogs need the temperature to drop below 5c before they really go into hibernation.”
“As Guernsey experiences such mild winters hedgehogs don’t really hibernate like they do in other parts of the UK and world.”
“This means they have to find food and all they require even though the stormy weather we have recently experienced.”
“Finding all they need during the winter months is difficult and often means they lose condition and pick up a range of ailments.”
“On Sunday night we had another poorly hedgehog found late at night sadly covered in mange.”
“Clover as the finders called it was rescued in the Green Lanes and is now under the care of the GSPCA team and will take many weeks to recover.”
“Clover is 1 of 23 hedgehogs to come into the care of the GSPCA this year and last year we helped an incredible 665 one of the highest amounts in the last 11 years.”
“Last year the GSPCA helped a record breaking number of wildlife in our history, over 2500.”
“It is really important we all do all we can to help our hedgehogs especially at this time of year from putting out food and water to ensure they have the hedges they need for their natural habitat.”
There are many things you can do in your garden to help hedgehogs and to donate to the GSPCA work helping 1000’s of wild animals a year and record numbers of hedgehogs please go to https://bit.ly/3eE3RPx
There are many things Guernsey can all do to help hedgehogs; here are just a few:
· Make sure hedgehogs can access your garden with a ‘Hedgehog Highway’ a 5” x 5” (13 x 13cm) square gap in the bottom of fences or walls should do it! Once created you can log these on the British Hedgehog Preservation Society BIG Hedgehog Map at www.bighedgehogmap.org
· Create a log pile that will offer shelter and natural food.
· Build a Hedgehog Home (see the British Hedgehog Preservation Society plans at www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes).
· Move piles of rubbish to a new site on the day you are burning it and check it carefully before setting light to it, lighting from only one side so that there’s an escape route should you have missed anything.
· Check areas carefully before mowing or trimming.
· Ensure netting is kept at a height that allows hedgehogs to pass safely under it.
· Check compost heaps carefully before digging the fork in.
· Stop using pesticides and poisons.
· Cover drains or deep holes.
· Ensure there is an easy route out of ponds & pools.
Due to the huge numbers and many extremely sick hedgehogs the GSPCA are in desperate need of additional Intensive Care Units which cost £600 each, but really help save lives and they also need donations towards their care and every penny really helps make a huge difference.
To support their appeal to help the many hedgehogs and wildlife in our care you can donate by visiting the GSPCA appeal page by visiting https://bit.ly/3eE3RPx .
You might want to go one step further and purchase an intensive care unit and we have supplied the details for anyone or business or group wanting to donate something they can see make a real difference.
Large ICU’s – https://brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/tlc-50-advance-intensive-care-unit-brooder-recovery-unit/
Medium ICU’s – https://brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/tlc-40-advance-intensive-care-unit-brooder-recovery-unit/
Small ICU’s – https://brinsea.co.uk/small-animal-care/tlc-intensive-care-incubators/tlc-30-advance/
Steve continued “In 2020 we helped a record breaking number of hedgehogs and last year was the second highest number through the doors.”
“With winter upon us we help so many hedgehogs struggle with decreasing resources and inclement weather.”
“There are many ways you can help hedgehogs both in your garden and by supporting our work.”
“Hedgehogs are great in so many ways from helping eat the pesky slugs and snails in your garden to the smiles they bring to those that like to watch them and we hope that the Bailiwick of Guernsey will come together to support hedgehogs especially for this coming week and carry on into the future.”
“Maybe you want to support the hedgehogs every month, if so why not become a sponsor and Angel Pen Pal supporter and to find out more you can pop in or call us on 257261 for a leaflet or download a leaflet with all the details by going to http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf .”
“The GSPCA are currently fundraising for a new Wildlife Hospital and to buy a brick or support this build go to – http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/exciting-news-gspca-relaunch-wildlife-hospital-appeal-can-you-help-future-bailiwicks-wildlife”
“If you find a sick or injured hedgehog we are here 24/7 on site and have a manned ambulance and if you need to know what to do please call us on 01481 257261 or check out the advice page https://www.gspca.org.gg/animal/hedgehog-advice .”
Over the last 11 years, the GSPCA have seen an average steady increase in hedgehog numbers and here they are –
2021 – 665 hedgehogs
2020 – 729 hedgehogs
2019 – 618 hedgehogs
2018 – 472 hedgehogs
2017 – 562 hedgehogs
2016 – 491 hedgehogs
2015 – 374 hedgehogs
2014 – 394 hedgehogs
2013 – 315 hedgehogs
2012 – 496 hedgehogs
2011 – 137 hedgehogs
Total over the last 11 years = 5253 hedgehogs plus 23 hedgehogs from the 1st January 2022 to 23rd February 2022 brings the number to 5276
Here are some hedgehog facts and tips to help them –
· Any Hedgehogs seen out in daylight will likely need URGENT help, please call us for advice
· Hedgehogs do NOT lie out sunbathing
· Any cut hedgehog needs urgent help
· Any Hedgehog with flies on it or maggots crawling on it needs VERY Urgent help
· Any Hedgehog limping or walking strangely needs help
· Anything hedgehog that looks very thin or wobbly or has bald patches or missing spines
· Garden ponds and swimming pools – Make sure there is always an easy route for Hedgehogs to climb out of the water. Steps built out of house bricks are often used. Ideally, swimming pools should have shallow steps and a tight-fitting insulating cover should be used overnight.
· Strimmers and hedge trimmers – These should be used sparingly under hedges and other areas of undergrowth. Hedgehogs and other animals are likely to be resting there during the day. The GSPCA see animals injured by these every month and if this does happen please contact us immediately or pop them to the Shelter as quickly as possible.
· Drains – Drains and similar open holes frequently trap unwary Hedgehogs and they can starve if they are not rescued. Keep all drain covers in good condition and cover any open holes.
· Litter – Litter is a real hazard and Hedgehogs frequently get their heads stuck in tins, plastic binders from drinks cans or discarded yoghurt pots. Please make sure you dispose of your rubbish safely. Also please ensure that you store any items for recycling in a safe place away from inquisitive Hedgehogs.
· Nets – Nets particularly those used for tennis, football or cricket, must be furled well above the ground when not in use. Hedgehogs often get entangled in these nets and die of starvation. Fruit nets are a similar source of danger but can be kept taut to stop animals getting entangled.
· Pets – Dogs are often quite inquisitive when they see a Hedgehog in the garden. It is important that your dog doesn’t try to play or pick up a Hedgehog as it can both injure the hedgehog and your pet.
· Slug pellets – Slug pellets can poison Hedgehogs and should only be used as a last resort. Try using other methods such as beer traps or sprinkling fine sand or ground up shells around the plants you need to protect; rings made of cutting down plastic drinks bottles can offer protection to individual plants and aluminium, sulphate-based products can be used over wider areas. If all else fails and you have to use pellets, place them under a slate that is inaccessible to Hedgehogs.
· Rodenticides – There is new evidence that has shown that Hedgehogs are at risk from poisons put down for rats and mice. Although the bait boxes used should not allow Hedgehogs to get to the bait, slugs and snails are attracted to the bait and will then store the poison in their bodies, so when the Hedgehog eats the slug, they get the poison. So always seriously consider whether you need to use these chemicals and if so, please be very careful.
· Bonfires – If you have to light a bonfire, always make sure there are no animals sheltering in the pile.
· They have relatively long legs – about 10cms (4″) and these enable them to run as fast as they can walk.
· Their front feet are shorter and broader than their back ones.
· The claws on their powerful front feet are particularly useful for digging.
· Each night (when not hibernating) Hedgehogs will probably make a slow and apparently haphazard search for food and will travel between 2-3kms (1-2 miles).
· They have small bright eyes but cannot see very well. At night they will use their excellent sense of smell and hearing to guide them.
· Their weight will be largely determined by the food they get, but most one-year olds will weigh between 450-680gms (1-1½1bs).
· Self-anointing is an activity only Hedgehogs do. It seems to be connected with strange smells or tastes that cause them to produce large quantities of frothy saliva. They then spread the foam over their spines by flicking it with their tongue.
· If a young Hedgehog survives its early life in the nest and then its first hibernation, it can expect to live for 4 or 5 years longer. By this time it will be getting old but might live to the age of ten.
· Generally they lead solitary lives and tend to go out of their way to avoid other Hedgehogs, except during the mating season.
· Like most mammals the Hedgehog has a characteristic smell and this will usually warn other hedgehogs to keep out of the way.
· In the mating season the male may be attracted by the different smell of the female and commence a rather prolonged and noisy courtship with her.
· Hedgehogs do not pair bond – the female raises her young unaided by the male.
· At the GSPCA we see more sick and injured Hedgehogs than any other species of wild animal.
· The GSPCA when we release Hedgehogs ensure they are painted purple on their spines and we also microchip them.
· Baby Hedgehogs are called Hoglets.
· An adult hedgehog have between 5000 and 7000 spines · Hedgehogs were likely brought to Guernsey sometime in the 18th century
· Hedgehogs really need the winter temperature to be below 5C to hibernate which means they do struggle to do this in guernsey resulting in hedgehogs arriving at the GSPCA almost daily all year round