Hedgehogs need help this winter
The RSPCA had more than 6,000 calls last year from people worried about them
It's feared this winter could be extra deadly for hedgehogs across Stamford and Rutland, as the RSPCA sees a rise in underweight animals coming into its care.
Every year, the RSPCA receives thousands of calls from the general public reporting their concerns about a hedgehog. In 2020, the animal charity received more than 6,000 (6202) calls from people worried about sick, underweight, injured or orphaned hedgehogs.
In 2020, the RSPCA received more than 300 calls from people in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire who were worried about the spiky creatures.
Hedgehogs born late in the year often do not have enough fat reserves to survive the long winter hibernation without some help. They'll have to forage for longer to find enough food - often during the day - and that’s often when they are spotted by concerned animal lovers determined to help them.
The decision whether or not to intervene with a hedgehog depends on how much they weigh during early winter and whether they are healthy or not.
RSPCA Scientific Officer Evie Button said: “A cold snap can be lethal for underweight hedgehogs if it means they go into hibernation before they’ve put enough weight on.
“If you see a young hoglet that’s only about the size of an apple - around 300g - they really need to be rescued and taken to a rehabilitation facility, as they won’t have enough fat reserves to last the winter.
“We fear this may turn out to be a bad year for hedgehogs as admission numbers into our centres have already overtaken 2020’s. We urge people to visit our website for advice on what to do if they see a sick or injured hog, particularly if it’s out and about during the day.”