Make your bonfire hedgehog-safe – and meet our rescued hoglet
Bonfire Night can be a perilous time of year for hedgehogs, but one young hoglet has been given a second chance, thanks to Born Free rescuer Tarnya Knight.
(c) Tarnya Knight
With the heartrending news that the official conservation status of the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has been updated from ‘Least Concern’ to ‘Near Threatened’ this week, there has never been a more important time to do everything we can to protect declining populations of one of the UK’s most iconic wild animals.
At this time of year, hedgehogs start looking for places to hibernate and, unfortunately, unlit bonfires can seem the perfect choice. As you can imagine, if a bonfire is lit with a hedgehog inside, this can cause serious painful injuries and even death.
Please follow our top tips to make sure your bonfire is hedgehog-safe.
FIND OUT HOW TO MAKE A SAFE BONFIRE
One young hoglet being kept safe from the threat of bonfires this year, is a tiny seven-week-old female, being cared for by Born Free’s Rescue & Care Coordinator Tarnya Knight in West Sussex. The baby hedgehog was brought to Tarnya two weeks ago, when she was found by a caring member of the public.
The hoglet was standing with her mother by the woman’s car, but startled by the lady approaching, the older female hedgehog ran off. The hoglet didn’t follow, instead curling up in fear and sadly, although the woman waited, the mother did not return.
Being a cold time of year, and the hoglet being far too young to fend for herself, the woman picked her up and sought the help of Tarnya, who is experienced in hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation.
“Two weeks later, the hoglet is doing extremely well,” said Tarnya. “She is able to eat by herself and has nearly doubled in size. She’s enjoying a milky mash I make by mixing up cat food with a special milk formula for young mammals. It’s really important you don’t give ordinary cow’s milk to hedgehogs. With no signs of injuries, this youngster will be ready to be released back to the wild, as soon as she has gained enough weight to survive hibernation and there is a spell of mild weather to help her adjust.”
Can you help us name this hoglet? Visit Born Free’s Facebook or Instagram to send us your best suggestions!
If you see a hedgehog and think they need help, please seek advice from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society: