Adopted

Blaze

Blaze is a tiny hedgehog and would have only been born around August time. If he was to stay outside and hibernate this winter he wouldn't survive. Therefore, we will keep him warm and provide him with plenty of food and water. He should be able to return to his natural habitat next spring.

Blaze was adopted by Lauren Moulton (aged 9) on the 16th November 2008.

Ken

This is Ken. He was found during the day and he was wet and cold, which signifies health problems. Ken has received the relevant medication and is now back to full strength. He is a very fiesty fellow, in fact one of the only hedgehogs we have here at the moment that snuffles, snorts, huffs and puffs at me everytime his health check is due. These noises when a hedgehog is approached can be linked to poor eyesite, so we will monitor his progress over the next few months.
He's one of this year's babies, as he isn't big enough to make it through hibernation, so he will stay with us during winter where he can stay warm and be fed. If he is considered to be well enough to be released next year he will be, but if his eyesight is failing he will become a permanent resident.

Ken was adopted by Chez Byrne on the 17th November 2008.

Becks

We received a call on saturday 8th November asking for help with a hedgehog that had been found hanging by his neck in the netting of a goal post. The message was left on my mobile, as I was on the other line at the time. When I returned the call, the hedgehog was in transit, on the way to the vets. It didn't take a lot for me to explain to the person who found him that it would be a safer environment for him here. Half an hour later he was delivered to my door.
Upon arrival the hedgehog was shaking, wobbling and had no use of his hind legs. Needelss to say, most veternainary practices would have noted these symptoms and put him to sleep. He had no signs of wounding anywhere, so we wrapped him up warm and gave him a covered hot water bottle. We left him a bowl of food and water, gave him some medication and waited to see the outcome. Within a couple of hours the amount of wobbles had decreased dramatically and he attempted to eat on his own from the bowl. Happy with his progress, we covered him up for the night and allowed him to rest.
Next morning he was feeling a lot better, he had full use of his legs, had eaten a whole bowl of cat food and had drunk a lot of water. He will be staying here a while as he isn't big enough to make it through hibernation. It is undecided yet whether he will be released next year as he seems to have wobbly days. His progress will be closely monitored over the next few months

Becks was adopted by Mr Arthur Brooks on the 18th November 2008

Ember & Flame

Ember and Flame were brought into the rescue centre together on November 5th. They are both very small and from the same nest, so they are happy to live together and snuggle up in thier hog-hide. When hedgehogs are brought in together, unless we are certain they are sibllings, they have to live apart, as hedgehogs are solitary creatures who don't enjoy the company of other hedgehogs. Both Ember and Flame are suspected to have lungworm, so they have been treated with the appropriate medication. These two will be kept warm and fed plenty over the winter months and, all being well, they will be released next year

Ember & Flame were adopted by Elaine Brookes on the 19th November 2008

Chloe

Chloe came in to the rescue centre in the beginning of October. She had been found during the day, circumstances unknown, but she should really have still been with her mum. She weighed just 50 grams. We syringe fed her goats milk for a week and then encouraged her to start eating cat food mixed with milk. Chloe is steadily putting on weight and we are very happy with her progress. She is now eating the same as the adult hedeghogs however she can't be released until next spring as she is still far too small to make it through hibernation

Chloe was adopted by Mr & Mrs Marsden on 23rd Nov 2008

Morris

Morris is staying here over winter to be fattened up to prepare him for spring. When he arrived he had Lungworm. Lungworm is very serious in hedgehogs and can cause death in just a few weeks. Morris was very thin indeed and needed a good bath. We're not quite sure whet he had been rolling in, but lets just say it was very unpleasant.
He has been treated with the relevant medication and I am happy to say he has a steady weight gain.
Hopefully, when spring arrives Morris will be healthy enough to be released.

Morris was adopted by Adrian Goward on 23rd Nov 2008

Pip

This is tiny little Pip. She weighs just over 155 grams and was found during the daytime which is always a bad sign. However she has been here a few weeks now and appears to be fit and healthy. She has a healthy appetite and always finishes her food without hesitation. There is no way she would survive the winter if she was still living outside so she will be staying with us until spring when we will consider releasing her back into the wild.

Pip was adopted anonymously on the 23rd November 2008

Petal

This pretty little lady is called Petal. She was brought into the rescue centre in October having been found wandering down the middle of a main road. She was cold, wet, very thin. We were not quite sure if she had any injuries that weren't obvious, so we gave her relevant medication and kept her warm on a heat pad for a few days. Petal has since made a fantastic recovery and surprised us all. She is a happy little hedgehog - always willing to come out and greet us when it's feeding time. She's not camera shy in the slighest as you can see! We are happy with her weight gain and will consider putting her back into the wild next spring if all goes well.

Petal was adopted by Fiona Grace on the 28th November 2008.

charlie

Charlie is a male hedgehog who was found during the day. He came into the centre early December weighing just 305 grams. At this weight he is be too small to make it through hibernation, so he will stay awake this winter by being kept warm and fed.
Upon arrival he received vitamin injections and medication for lungworm, as there were indications that he wasn't very well.
Charlie is making a good recovery and is putting on weight at a steady rate. If this continues he will be released in spring.

Charlie was adopted by Fred and Marie Ashford on 18th January 2009.

Tommy

Tommy came into the rescue centre on 1^st November. He was found during the day and he was cold and wet.
We gave him a heat pad and administered lungworm medication. A couple of days later he still wasn’t eating on his own, but his body temperature was as it should be. We decided to put him on a convalescence support diet and vitamin B12.

I am happy to say that Tommy is steadily put on weight.

We did have a set back a week ago when he wouldn’t settle or build a nest. His behaviour became worrying, as he kept pacing the same path of his hutch over and over again. He was also comfortable with me stroking his chin and touching his feet. This is not normal behaviour for a hedgehog. The pacing became so bad that he wore down the pads of his feet and made them bleed. He was given an antiseptic cream and his feet healed well.

I am happy to say that we have now managed to get Tommy to relax and sleep, but he refuses to build a nest. He is now living on a fleece blanket as flooring and he wraps himself up in a towel or his fleece to settle and sleep.

Tommy has just about reached an ideal hibernation weight, but we won’t be putting him into a hibernation box for the remainder of winter, as his behaviour indicates that he may have eye sight problems. If, during spring, he carries on refusing to snuggle down in a nest and allows humans to approach him, we will have to have his eye sight checked by a vet. If his vision is confirmed as inadequate, he will be offered a secure garden, where he cannot escape or be attacked by predators.

Tommy was adopted by Mrs Jacqueline Purse on the 31st Jan 2009