Hedgehog charity 'inundated' due to heat

A hedgehog rescue charity says it is has "never seen" so many animals in its care at this time of year.

Holderness Hedgehog Hospital said it was looking after 86 animals - most are young hedgehogs, known as hoglets.

Charity trustee Cath Novis said she believed it could be down to the recent hot weather.

She added: "The ground is so hard that the hedgehogs can't go digging for worms, insects, and everything else that they eat."

She said high temperatures could also cause a shortage of water for the animals to drink.

"We ask people that they put down lots of water - not only for the hedgehogs, but for the birds and other wildlife as well."

Novis added these pressures on food and water could lead to mother hedgehogs abandoning their nests.

"It's a case of self-preservation. She leaves the hoglets and hence why the rescues are so inundated."

The charity treats animals brought to them for fleas, checking for internal parasites, feeding them, and then weaning them.

Novis also urged anyone who might see a hedgehog either out in the daytime, or injured, to get in touch with their local rescue centre.

"Every second counts in the life of a hedgehog," she added.

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