The GSPCA has been kept extremely busy with hundreds of animals arriving each month but one of the main casualties has been dehydrated and hedgehogs with extreme head wounds due to strimmers and hedges cutters.
In the last week we have rescued 16 extremely dehydrated hedgehogs, those flat and thin for their age and size, many dehydrated and those with severe maggot infested head wounds.
Gardening injuries is a huge issue for hedgehogs at this time of year and the warm weather are causing them huge challenges and the GSPCA are urging islanders to care and help save lives.
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 extremely busy at the GSPCA with extremely poorly hedgehogs many of which are currently in intensive care units.”
“With all the warm weather hedgehogs have really been struggling to find enough water which is really apparent with the 113 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.”
“Last night Mr Snuffles and Terry two baby hoglets at only 4-5 weeks of age were found with no mum and very dehydrated and are now doing well and tucking into food and special hedgehog milk.”
“The extreme issues we have seen are those with maggot infested head wounds which are very likely due to strimmers and hedge cutters.”
“It is so important to check your garden before undertaking this sort of work as you could help save a hedgehog life but taking the time to check the undergrowth or area you are looking to clear or cut.”
“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 really need your support during these difficult days to care for not just hedgehogs but the hundreds of sick and injured animals in our care at the GSPCA.”“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
In line with States of Guernsey advice please DO NOT visit the GSPCA if have been outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in the last two weeks or have any symptoms of Coronavirus and we continue visits to the Shelter for only essential reasons and to please call us on 01481 257261 or email [email protected] before your trip to see if we can help without you coming to the Shelter. For the latest information and advice please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/search/node/coronavirus
The GSPCA continues with all essential services and we plane to phase other services back into operation and to find out more please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-take-cautious-approach-returning-new-normal-%E2%80%93-gspca-plan-our-services-and-volunteers-retu
With huge challenges on our resources and a drop in income from boarding and donations please help us help animals in Guernsey with our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by donating online via - https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal
During these difficult times help us help animals in need. From donating to Sponsoring a Pen, Buying a Brick for the much needed Wildlife Hospital to our Amazon and main page Wish List, holding a mufti day to a sponsored Christmas dip, here are some of the ways you could help give animals joy.
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 see a list of our volunteer induction evenings which we hold each month and for more information please visit http://gspca.org.gg/about/volunteers or call 257261
To find out more on trips, talks and our education work please email [email protected] or call 01481 257261
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