| Helping injured or
sick hedgehogs |
| If you see a hedgehog out in the
daylight, there is always something wrong, as they are naturally nocturnal.
|
| Place it in a dark box with a towel-covered hot water
bottle. You can offer a dish of water and good quality meat (not fish) dog or
cat food, but never attempt to force the animal to eat or drink. |
| If the animal is so weak it is collapsed then it may
be unable to swallow, and putting water in the mouth would simply choke it.
|
| If you accidentally unearth a hedgehog nest with
babies, put the covering back, using gloves, as quickly and quietly as
possible. |
| Never touch the babies, as your smell may cause the
mother to abandon or eat them. |
| If you suspect they have already been abandoned,
leave them for a while then very quietly check back an hour later to see if the
mother has returned. |
| If not, the babies can be placed in a dark box with a
towel-covered hot water bottle while you seek professional advice. |
|
|
| This leaflet or copies of it in
its entirety may be freely distributed by any medium, provided no charge is
made for such copies or the production of such copies. Any amendments to text,
format or pictures, or any other usage of such outside this leaflet, is
expressly prohibited without the written permission of WildLives. Copyright
© Wildlives 2003 |