The GSPCA has been kept extremely busy with hundreds of animals arriving each month but one of the main casualties has been dehydrated and very poorly hedgehogs.
In just 3 hours on Friday evening 4 hedgehogs arrived 3 of which were extremely dehydrated, flat and thin for their age and size with the fourth pictured not so dehydrated but still very thin and covered in ticks.
Hedgehogs can be found in every Parish in Guernsey and happily move throughout the island and as many are still breeding and rearing young they can often be seen day and night looking for food and especially water in the recent hot weather.
We can all help our spikey friends by providing food and water for them in our gardens and outside spaces.
A fresh bowl of water can help not just the hedgehogs, but other visiting wildlife and especially the birds.
You must take care when providing feed for hedgehogs to ensure it is suitable as there are many things they can’t digest and disagree with them so please DON’T put out or feed them –
- Bread
- Dairy: Milk.
- Fruits: Grapes and raisins.
- Citrus fruits. Avocado.
- Vegetables: Onion. Garlic. Potato.
- Meats: Processed and canned meat.
- Raw meat.
- Other: All nuts and seeds. Chocolate.
This is by no way a full list but gives you a good idea of some of the items to avoid.
To help hedgehogs please help supplement their diet in the wild by offering either a good quality hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food. During the summer months please avoid dry biscuits or if you do use them please soak them well in water before putting them out. The reason for this is dry biscuits will mean they need to consume larger amounts of water which might be scarce in the warm weather.
REMEMBER: Only ever offer water to drink.
At the GSPCA we do sell a selection of feed suitable for our hedgehog friends 7 days a week.
Other dangers for hedgehogs at this time of year include:
- Swimming pools, douits and ponds with no shallow area – hedgehogs are good swimmers but need somewhere to climb out from the water
- Slug pellets – pest control is a real danger to hedgehogs so please avoid using non natural options
- Strimmer’s, hedge cutters, lawn mowers and gardening instruments – almost every day through the summer we help hedgehogs hurt through people gardening and not checking the areas they are working on for wildlife first
- Gardening netting, football nets, tennis nets and similar – where possible avoid using netting or leaving any type of nets out. With an average 8000 spines per hedgehog they can easily get caught and we have already helped a number this year in Guernsey for this reason
- Rubbish bags – rubbish bags can often be attractive to hedgehogs but they can get entangled with the contents or trapped when the bag moves when they are inside which can lead to their death
- Drains – drains left uncovered often can lead to hedgehogs falling in and trapping them and in many cases it is too late when they are found
- Sheds, garages and outhouses – often during this time of year we are out and about in the garden and leaving the doors open to out buildings may be attractive to a wondering hedgehog so please check inside before locking them up to ensure there is no wildlife trapped inside
- Driving – hedgehogs are often moving around in search for food and water, or partners so please take care on the roads as many will have seen those not so lucky trying to cross the road
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “It’s been a very, very busy night shift at the GSPCA with extremely poorly hedgehogs many of which are currently in intensive care units requiring fluids through the evening.”
“With all the warm weather hedgehogs have really been struggling to find enough water which is really apparent with the 134 in our care.”
“We can all do our bit to help hedgehogs in Guernsey from putting out plenty of wet food and water to taking care when driving and gardening.”
“We have seen dozens of baby hedgehogs come into our care in recent months and it is heart breaking when they arrive so poorly and weak.”
“At the GSPCA we have put together this page with some helpful information so we can all to what we can to help the hedgehogs in Guernsey.”
“If anyone has any questions we are always here to help and if you find a sick or injured hedgehog please call us 24/7 on 257261 or pop it in a box and bring it up to the Shelter in St Andrews.”
“Hedgehogs out during the day are often a real worry that they might be struggling and if you are concerned we are here to help.”
“People often worry about how to pick up a hedgehog and the easiest way is by using a towel or jumper as trying to handle them with their 8000 spines can be a little tricky.”
"People also often worry about their fleas but in the main these are hedgehog fleas and not those you see on your dogs and cats."
“When these poorly hedgehogs arrive they often are placed in intensive care units which are all currently full and often having to be doubled up and we are appealing for new units.”
“Recently some kind person bought a new unit for us and you can help us buy more of these much needed units by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gspcaintensivecare or to buy one directly like the amazing person that donated this one for the Shelter please visit https://brinsea.co.uk/small-animal-care/tlc-intensive-care-incubators/tlc-30-advance/ .”
“With so many animals and buildings to care for at the GSPCA we have many wishes and to visit others please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .”
“You can donate to help the wildlife and hedgehogs in our care via our giving.gg page or create your own sponsored event or challenge by visiting https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) via https://www.paypal.me/DonateGSPCA calling 257261 or at the Shelter.”
“We also really need help in building a new Wildlife Hospital and there are many ways to support this much needed facility.”
“If you find a sick or injured wildlife please call us on 01481 257261 or for advice please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice .”
To make a direct donation to our Wildlife Hospital please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/event/4618/Please-Support-the-GSPCA-Wildlife-Hospital-Appeal or via paypal https://www.paypal.me/DonateGSPCA
To download the form with our bank details to make a direct donation or to Buy a Brick in the new Wildlife Hospital please click here - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Buy%20a%20Brick%20Wildlife%20Hospital.pdf
Larger donors or corporates may want to make a larger donation and become an Exclusive Build Partner and to find out more please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-exclusive-build-partner
You can donate via our giving.gg page or create your own sponsored event or challenge - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)
To Buy a Brick in the new Wildlife Hospital and download a leaflet please click here - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Buy%20a%20Brick%20Wildlife%20Hospital.pdf
To learn about the ‘Buy a Brick’ in the new Wildlife Hospital and find out more please click here - http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-launch-buy-brick-proposed-new-wildlife-hospital
To learn more about our biggest project, become an Exclusive Build Partner and support our Wildlife Hospital please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-exclusive-build-partner
To donate to the animals in our care another via our paypal page - www.paypal.me/DonateGSPCA
To donate to Hannah, Mambo and Andy the seal pups please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/event/4617/Help-the-seal-pups-at-the-GSPCA or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jerseyandguernseysealpups
To visit the Just Giving page raising funds for life saving Intensive Care Units please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gspcaintensivecare or to buy one directly for the Shelter please visit https://brinsea.co.uk/small-animal-care/tlc-intensive-care-incubators/tlc-30-advance/
To become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf
To download a Corporate Angel Pen Pal form please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Angel%20Pen%20Pal%20sponsor%20formnew.pdf
If you would like to help at one of our upcoming events please give Michelle a call on 257261 or email [email protected]
To see some of the animals looking for homes at the GSPCA please visit – http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals
Another way to support us is our on site Charity Shop and refreshment area and to find out more please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-onsite-charity-shop
If your group or business would like to find out about spending a day at the Shelter please go to -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/corporate-and-group-days
For other ways your business can help us here at the GSPCA please go to -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/how-your-business-can-help-gspca-corporate-sponsorship
On Monday 12th August we have a volunteer induction evening and for more information and additional induction dates please visit http://gspca.org.gg/about/volunteers or call 257261
To see our upcoming guided tours please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/services/guided-tours-gspca
To see our Wish List on our website please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list
To visit our Amazon Wish list please visit - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList
For lots more ideas on how you can support the shelter and the animals in our care then please visit our fundraising page www.gspca.org.gg/fundraising
To find out more on trips, talks and our education work please email [email protected] or call 01481 257261
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