Found a Hedgehog?

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Found a Hedgehog?

Have you found a hedgehog?

How do you know if it needs to be rescued?  Well if you answer yes to any of the list below then yes it does need help:

  • Road traffic casualty
  • Out during the day
  • Unresponsive but not in nest (hedgehogs only hibernate in nests)
  • Damaged limb/s
  • Limb protruding when curled up
  • Underweight at wintertime (under 600g by November)
  • Obvious wounds
  • Injured baby hedgehog (often making high pitched pipping sound)
  • Baby hedgehog if it’s on its own, and only after lengthy observation from a distance
  • Trapped or caught e.g. down a drain / in fencing – do not cut free and release
  • If unresponsive/unconscious – needs veterinary attention immediately

If you accidentally uncover a hibernating hedgehog, please don’t move it. Cover it over again with a thick layer of dry leaves and leave it to sleep. Put some water and some dry or wet cat/dog food (non-fish based food) nearby in case you have woken it up and it comes out of hibernation. Please do not give it bread or milk.

Initially, we ask you watch the hedgehog to see what it does for a short time. Please do not pick up a healthy-looking hedgehog unless you have concerns.

If you are still concerned about the hedgehog, pick it up (wearing gardening, or thick, gloves), put it in a high-sided cardboard box/cat carrier/hamster cage. Line the box with an old towel/fleece at the bottom for it to hide in and keep warm (or plenty of newspaper if you have nothing else). Put down more water and cat/dog food and put the hedgehog somewhere quiet, dark & warm. Please keep away from children and domestic animals.

For hedgehogs who need our help, please call, or text Hedgehog Rescue Dublin on 086 881 0492, as soon as you can. If you don’t get a respond right away,  please keep trying as they might be out on a hedgehog rescue, or on feeding duty and may miss your first attempt.

Our thanks to Hedgehog Rescue Dublin for this invaluable information.

HedgeHog Rescue Dublin

Hedgehog Rescue Dublin, based in150 150 logo Rush, are a non-profit organisation, dedicated to rescuing sickly, orphaned and/or injured hedgehogs in the Leinster area.

Their ultimate aim is to return hedgehogs back into the wild once we have nursed them back to full health. They do not rehome hedgehogs to the general public, but have a number of safe wild habitats where they release the hedgehogs to live out the rest of their lives.

You can contact Hedgehog Rescue Dublin on 086 881 0492, on Facebook or via their website