Tayside hedgehogs given a second chance at life
Ballumbie hedgehog rescue have raised over £800 to provide recovery units for the sick or injured hedgehogs
Last updated 22nd Aug 2023
Sick and injured hedgehogs from across Tayside are being given a second chance at life thanks to Ballumbie Hedgehog rescue.
Dawn Airlie founded the rescue which operates out of a garage in her garden.
12 hedgehogs have so far been rescued, rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
Only one resident is currently staying at the rescue. Ally, rescued from Longforgan, was around 100g when he first came into care. He's now up to around 700g and will make his return to Longforgan once the weather improves.
Dawn's telling us one of the reasons she started her hedgehog rescue: "I just wanted to be able to help save as many hedgehogs as possible so that we still have hedgehogs around and we don't lose them.
"A quarter of a million of them are killed every year on the UK roads, that's quite a lot. So, we just thought if we could do a little bit to give back and make sure that we're helping... plus, they're really cute."
Dawn plans to patrician and insulate part of her garage to keep it warmer for the hedgehogs. This lead to a fundraiser, which has so far reached over £800, to purchase new recovery units for the hedgehogs.
She's telling us why they're needed and how pleased she's been with the support. She said: "Just now they're in a plastic box for a bed and you're lifting that in and out of the benches and it can be difficult to get into the corners and clean.
"But, if we can get proper vet cages they won't all be so low down and they'll be easier to clean. They also come with a divider and a double door and one of the doors is blanked off so the hedgehog will have a more quiet dark space."
She added: "I've been absolutely amazed with how generous people can be. Random people donating money. There's been people donating £50, £100 and people donating their time, towels, newspapers and food. It's really been nonstop and it's much more than I expected."
