04/05/2026
Hello.
As we are back in manic hedgehog rescue season, I thought it would be a good time to write this. Feel free to make a cuppa or grab a vino and sit back.
You can find hedgehog rescues in Yorkshire on Yorkshirehedgehogs.co.uk and across the UK on HelpWildlife.co.uk. You can also use Google. A reputable rescue always works with a vet (no one can run a rescue without veterinary help) and will be accountable with records alongside being clean. Ask questions to ensure that you are handing a hedgehog to someone with experience and who follows proceedure (not just someone who cares).
Sometimes, I am unable to answer my phone or reply instantly and other times, I am overflowing and unable to take more hedgehogs. I do have a limit. I will always endeavour to respond to calls and messages (but sometimes this will not be instant). I spend my working day in many work Teams meetings. We seem to live in an 'instant' world right now and I am a busy person and cannot respond instantly. Please leave a message. I do not have time to constantly chase people who dont leave messages.
Many rescues are just one lone person doing the vast majority of everything. I answer the phone, admit hogs, order everything in, clean a million things, wash blankets and bowls, arrange releases, deal with Facebook and queries from the public, undertake CPD, update records, microscope f***l checks, visit vets, discuss cases with other rescues etc all whilst dealing with hogs in my care which maybe receiving hand feeds or fluids and meds. I laugh and I cry and I get frustrated, tired and angry too. I am a human not a robot and my passion is hedgehogs. Sometimes my passion overflows especially when I am overwhelmed.
I run my rescue on top of running a house, having a family and holding down a professional job alongside trying to keep some kind of social life or visiting a dentist (normal things you take for granted). I love a weekend lie in and cherish a cuppa in bed because I'm usually exhausted after weekday early mornings and late nights.
This year I will be away from the rescue for the whole of July and into August. For this reason I am closing to new admissions from 1st June 2026 as I cannot look after babies/toddlers during this time (as I wont get them released in time). Some rescues pride themselves on never having a break.....that is not sustainable. Everybody needs a break. I know I've not picked the best time of year (its chaotic in rescue in Summer) and the feelingof guilt is immense. Please do not hold onto any hedgehog that you find. There are other rescues. You will have to travel but so be it. Vets are a last resort but if a hedgehog is visibly injured (yes that includes limping), please get it to a wildlife friendly vets.
Over the past 10 years, I've dealt with some horrendous cases and most are due to humans.
There have been accidental injuries inflicted, deliberate crimes and bloody stupid actions. I often have to bite my tongue but I try and remain calm and helpful.
I don't undertake educational events anymore as I no longer have time. I don't allow members of the public to visit my rescue which sits within my family home. The hedgehogs are here because they are poorly. I am not running a zoo.
When my journey started in 2015, I never set out to run a rescue and never envisaged what it would entail or the intensity of it all. I love what I do, but there will come a time one day when I stop. I hope that someone new starts to consider running a rescue in York as we are starting to get desperate. We really are at a tipping point now.
In the meantime, I ask each and every person who reads this to please consider their own actions. If you must strim (I wish strimmers were banned), consider what and where you are strimming (and forking). If you feed hedgehogs, please feed quality and appropriate food and please clean the feeding areas daily. You will cause more problems with a dirty environment, which can quickly build up with viruses, bacteria and parasites. If you provide homes for hedgehogs, please make sure they are plenty big enough (able to hold a minumum of 3 large loaves of bread ... consider a large adult hedgehog inside with 3 to 8 growing babies). Ensure they are a quality structure and waterproof and sited in the shade in undisturbed areas. Hedgehogs are very sensitive and should not be disturbed and handled. You wouldn't pick up a fox or badger for a photo and you wouldn't hold onto it without getting the appropriate care for it, would you?
Please support our beautiful native mammal the best way you can. Enjoy watching from a distance or with a night camera and keep your dog away from them. I have always lead walked our dog/s on a night in the garden. It's about being thoughtful and considerate to both wildlife and pets.
You can log hedehog sightings (dead or alive) on Hedgehog Street and read more information on their website and on the BHPS. If you live in the UK you can join 'Supporting Hedgehogs within the UK' on Facebook. Lots of good information is supplied on there.
A hedgehog out in the day is 99% sick and struggling. The only exception to the rule (in spring/summer) is an active mother who will be large, forging and collecting nesting materials. Far too many times I hear that it 'could be a mum' and should be left but more often than not its a sick male and even mums get sick and they take priority. Take footage on your phone (if unsure) to send to rescue. We know what behaviours we are seeing and can advise.
Make sure you have your local rescue details in your phone and follow the steps in the diagram attached for rescue.
Go and litter pick locally, ensure ponds are safe, create hedgehog holes in boundaries (or even better plant a native hedge), plant native shrubs and flowers, create wild areas and log piles. Wild areas are so much more welcoming to wildlife. Avoid fake grass and heavily concreted areas if you can. Make sure hoggies can climb up steps and can't get trapped (think of the small babies). Hedgehogs have little legs and tiny mouths. Don't leave open garden bags on the ground. Don't leave shed and garage doors open. Hedgehogs will choose these places to enter and nest and it often ends in disaster. Just try and 'Think Hedgehog'.
Thank you for reading and be kind to your local rescues as the season ramps up. Thank you to everyone who helps me in any small way. I really do appreciate it.
Fiona x
