Wear gardening gloves if possible.  Pick up and put in a box or cat carrier lined with a towel or similar, provide another towel to cover the casualty.  Please DO NOT use leaves, grass, hay or straw.

 Bring inside your house, this is vital, DO NOT leave outside, in a shed or garage, they must be warm.  A hot water bottle or a drinks bottle filled with hand hot water and covered can be put in with the hedgehog, allow enough space for the hedgehog to get near to the heat source or move away if it needs to. 

DO NOT worry about fleas, some hedgehogs do have them they are host specific and cannot infest your home or pets.

Like all creatures who feel poorly, they need warmth, comfort and quiet.

If you have to keep over night, we recommend using your bath or shower.  Line the bath or shower tray with a towel or newspaper, put the cat carrier or a cardboard box on its side as a nesting place, put another towel or similar in the box and leave a non tippable dish of water and a dish of food, cat biscuits or food is ideal, in the bath or shower.  Call a rescue in the morning.

If the hedgehog is in obvious distress, there is an obvious wound or injury, or bleeding please contact your vet.  Ask them to contact us in opening hours which are 0830-2030 every day.

If you have disturbed a nest and you cannot cover and leave, to monitor from a distance.  Please gather up mum first and secure her, then carefully, preferably with a pair of gloves, gather up the babies and put with mum.  Put them in a safe, secure and quiet place and call a rescue.  If you have to keep over night, follow the previous instructions, no further disturbance is vital.

For hedgehog help and advice, telephone Judy 07891 657104 or Alan 07970 983608.