2019 the GSPCA saw a record breaking 618 hedgehogs come through the doors and 2020 was even bigger with an amazing 729 hedgehogs.
Despite lockdown the GSPCA has been incredibly busy and especially with 25 hedgehogs in since 1st January with 141 currently in our care.
Due to the huge numbers and many extremely sick hedgehogs we are in desperate need of additional Intensive Care Units which cost £600 each, but really help save lives.
As we celebrate 148 years this week with our #GSPCAPurpleWeek could you help us help hedgehogs in Guernsey.
To donate to our appeal please visit – https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/gspca-hedgehog-intensive-care-unit-appeal?success=true
You can buy these units directly which can be found by going to –
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/
Winter is a truly awful time for hedgehogs as many late babies from last year struggle to survive, the bad weather and little food all cause them tremendous issues.
With the mild weather we experience in Guernsey hedgehogs find it incredibly difficult to hibernate as they really need temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius which means rarely a day goes by all year round that hedgehogs can be seen.
Over the last 10 years we have seen a steady increase in hedgehog numbers and here they are -
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 10 years = 4588 hedgehogs
At present our intensive care units are continually full due to the numbers of sick and injured hedgehogs from those with mange to strimmer injuries and this week possibly due to bonfires and fireworks but thankfully none as yet.
Brinsea who are one of the leading manufactures in Intensive Care Units have a wonderful range which last for years working 24/7 saving lives.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “In the last 10 years we have had a phenomenal 4588 hedgehogs through our doors and 2020 has broken the record for numbers to come into our care in our 148 year history.”
“729 hedgehogs through the doors breaking all records.”
“So far this year we have helped a further 25 hedgehogs and have 141 in our care.”
“Hedgehogs that are found this time of year sick or ill are often extremely thin and cold and intensive care units can make a huge difference warming them up and saving their lives.”
“The largest which we are in of most need are £600 each with delivery and any help would be hugely appreciated.”
"We have many ways you can donate to appeal from our online pages, calling 257261, at the Shelter or by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, GY6 8UD."
“It is so important to check areas before carrying out gardening tasks as well as lighting your bonfires as by doing so you could help save the life of a hedgehog or birds that may be at risk.”
“With the horrible weather we can all help hedgehogs from putting out fresh water and feed to providing hedgehog areas and homes.”
“You can feed them actual hedgehog food sold at many shops or meaty dog or cat food.”
“We help hedgehogs 24/7 and if you are concerned about one call us anytime on 01481 257261.”
“You can also help us help the hedgehogs here at the GSPCA such as sponsoring a hedgehog pen, making a donation or even an item from our Wish List.”
“Every day is a real struggle to raise the funds to care for the hundreds of animals in our care and for those that do become a regular sponsor it makes a huge difference to ensure that we can care for the 1000’s of animals through our doors every year and the record breaking number of hedgehogs.”
“To become a sponsor and Angel Pen Pal supporter 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 .”
“With huge challenges on our resources and a drop in income from boarding and donations you can donate to our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by going to https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal .”
“To see our Wish List items and plans please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .”
“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 .”
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 cut 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 which 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 we 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
Steve continued “Each year to mark our anniversary we hold our #GSPCAPurpleWeek and this year we see our first ever in lockdown.”
“With few fund raisers and next to no boarding due to lockdown the GSPCA income has been hit hard and we need your support now more than ever.”
“There are many ways you can help support our vital 24/7 work and donate or raise funds for the hundreds of animals in our care.”
“With 141 hedgehogs, 3 seal pups, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, fish, reptiles and many birds we help over 3000 animals through the doors every year.”
“With so many animals in our care we would love you to join our sponsor scheme to help us each month.”
“As mentioned just a couple of pounds each month can make a massive difference in helping the animals in our care and to find out more please go to http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf .”
“We have been working hard not only to care for the many animals and carry out our rescue work, but also reviewing our strategy.”
“Here is some information for those not familiar with what we are trying to achieve and we couldn’t do this without your support and we really hope you will join in with #GSPCAPurpleWeek.”
Donate
Donate to our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by calling 01481 257261, by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8UD or online https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal
Sponsored Event
Why not create your own sponsored event or challenge - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)
For lots more ideas why not visit our fundraising page www.gspca.org.gg/fundraising
Wish List
Check out our wish list page from the smallest of items to our biggest of projects there are many ways to support us - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list
To visit our Amazon Wish list to see some of the items we need to help the wildlife please visit - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList
Become a sponsor and GSPCA member
Why become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor and support our work each month please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf
To become a Corporate Angel Pen Pal form for your business to sponsor animals in our care each year please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Angel%20Pen%20Pal%20sponsor%20formnew.pdf
Share our posts and share your purple pictures
Many of you will have seen us on social media and your support liking and sharing our posts is really appreciated, and to visit our social media pages please go to
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GuernseySPCA
Twitter https://twitter.com/GSPCA
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gspca-guernsey-965b0751/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gspca_guernsey/
We’d love to see your purple themes pictures with your animals on our social media for #GSPCAPurpleWeek
Put up a poster
To download a poster to help promote #GSPCAPurpleWeek please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/GSPCA%20Purple%20Week%202021%20148%20years.pdf
Subscribe to our Supporters Newsletter
To subscribe to our supporters newsletter and find out about upcoming events and news please go to https://us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9324335c87c8b3ec9f0016f2a&id=e61c951a08
In line with States of Guernsey advice please DO NOT visit the GSPCA if have been outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in line with their advice 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
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
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