Hilton Hedgehog Rescue

13/06/2024

It is with sadness that I announce my hedgehog rescue will be closing with immediate effect. I am so proud of how many hedgehogs I have rescued, rehabilitated and released in the 14 years I have been doing this.

There is a high cost (financially and otherwise) in rescuing animals. In my case it is a combination of reasons why I am forced to close. Not only have I received only one donation in a 12 month period, my Etsy store sales have dropped dramatically, with no sales in nearly 4 months. Added to that, my landlord has decided to sell and I am now in the stressful situation of trying to find somewhere to live and this has just been the straw that has broken the camels back.

I do not know where I will end up, nor if I will have the space to continue rescuing hedgehogs. Quite honestly, with the exorbitant rents being charged it is doubtful I will have the funds to continue doing this on the scale I have done up until now. In the future, I will likely only take in a few hedgehogs as and when finances allow, but this will not be in the Hilton or Huntingdon area.

To those who have helped or supported me over the years, thank you.

10/06/2022

Handy advice

Great advice from Watermeadows Hedgehog Rescue on what to do if you disturb a hedgehog nest with hoglets in 😃
If you need to find a local Rescue you can check on https://helpwildlife.co.uk/map/

02/02/2022

07/01/2022

All current patients have been given a clean bill of health and have been moved to their deluxe accommodation in the garage.

Those who have been in the garage for several weeks (or more) aren’t hibernating yet, despite the freezing temperatures at the moment. 🙄😄

01/12/2021

This is what a very “huffy” hedgehog sounds like. Georgina takes huffing to a new level. 😂 (Apologies the video ends abruptly, but I needed to put her back in her box after cleaning).

29/11/2021

In case you ever wonder why hedgehog rescues have to limit the numbers of hedgehogs we take in… it takes hours each day to care for them. Each morning this is my first priority - cleaning out each box from the night activities. Then weighing, medicating and settling each hog back for the day. 🦔 And yes, they are very active each night and there’s always a lot to clean up each morning. 😄

10/11/2021

A quick update on Georgina from Huntingdon. She has been gaining weight due to special medicated food I got for her, as she is not eating anything else. I have also started her on antibiotic for lungworm as she is coughing.

She is a feisty little hedgehog who hisses and grunts at me a lot. I’m hoping she will start to eat some other foods that I feed all the hedgehogs, once she is feeling better (probably once the course of antibiotics has had a chance to work). 🦔

04/11/2021

Unfortunately Joshua died within hours of being dropped off with me. This poor hedgehog lay outside a school in St Neots, while everyone stepped over him and did nothing. The kind lady who found him then struggled to find a rescue that had space until another rescue called me to ask if I could help.

Sadly there are too many cases like this, with other rescues being at capacity as I am. As much as we want to help every single hedgehog, we have to be realistic. Taking too many in means they do not receive the level of care they should get… but not taking them in means they could die. It’s a horrible situation to be in and happens all too frequently.

On a happier note, Carl from Godmanchester is doing well and has almost finished his course of antibiotics. I will post more updates on all my patients as and when I can. 🦔

03/11/2021

Another small hedgehog in, this girl is from Huntingdon and the lovely people who found her have called her Georgina. She weighs only 218g and on first inspection is dehydrated.

Unfortunately Sabrina, who I posted about a few days ago, did not survive. I also have had a very sick hedgehog from St Neots with breathing problems dropped off and his prognosis is not good either. His name is Joshua and I will share a video/photos when I can.

At this time of year, with the temperatures dropping and autumn juveniles (late litters of hoglets) don’t have much hope of surviving the winter if they have not gained sufficient weight.

Busy, busy, busy …

01/11/2021

This is Sabrina. She arrived tonight from Somersham. Her finders thought that all hedgehogs need to survive winter is to be “fattened up” and a good weight. This is not the case and l cannot say it enough - all animals need specialised care from experienced people.

I won’t go into the details of why Sabrina is now critical. What I can confirm is that she is severely dehydrated and has hypothermia. She may also have developed pneumonia.

Whilst I provide the best possible care I can to these sweet creatures, it’s not only time consuming and costly, it also takes an emotional toll. My heart is heavy because I don’t know if she will survive the night. Please think good thoughts for her. 💛

29/10/2021

Carl (found by Carol in Godmanchester)arrived on Thursday evening. He is in critical condition, but I am doing everything I possibly can to help him.

He is toasty and warm on a heat pad, receiving fluids and an antibiotic.

22/10/2021

👉 Please share this advice to counteract all the well meaning posts asking you to leave out pumpkins for wildlife. Keep them high to ensure hedgehogs don't have access. 🦔 🎃 ❎

Our thanks to the talented Ann Ross for this design 😀