It’s boiling in Malvern today as it is around much of the country. Fortunately I managed to escape work early and got home mid afternoon. And it was really lucky I did – I went out into the garden to find two baby hedgehogs sitting out in the heat on the lawn.
They were so small and although one was snuffling about the other wasn’t very lively – no wonder as the thermometer was saying 37°C!
I had a quick look around the garden but no sign of adults, so I phoned our local hedgehog rescue centre. Thank goodness the wonderful woman answered the phone and told me to grab them quick and phone her back. One convenient large plant pot later…
Fortunately the rescue lady was just around the corner so I took the babies down there straightaway. She weighed them – 82 and 90g, a male and a female – and estimated they were about 3 and a half weeks old as their teeth were just coming through. They were apparently in reasonable health and not dehydrated so she said the chances of them surviving were good.
Whilst I am relieved to hear these babies will probably make it, it is very sad to think that it probably means the mother is dead. We have been watching hedgehogs in the garden over the last few months and it’s really upsetting to think one of them may have died. Thank goodness I didn’t get home any later from work to find 2 dead baby hedgehogs in the heat on the lawn.
The lady at the rescue centre has taken my details and says when they are grown enough to survive we can have 2 back. She will apparently give us one of our original ones plus a different one (to avoid inbreeding between brother and sister). So at least that will hopefully be a happy ending. Hopefully I can give an update later in the year.
If anyone find a hedgehog in need of help in Malvern the rescue centre details can be found at http://www.malvernhedgehogrescue.co.uk/ It is run on a completely voluntary basis and relies on donations, so if anyone can help towards her running costs, please donate – either as a direct donation or by donating foods, cleaning materials etc.
Too Lazy To Weed 
Well done, it’s a good job you came home from work early that day
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Well done, I have been leaving water and food out in my garden and have an adult hedgehog visiting every night, sadly I have found four dead young ones on the field behind my house I don’t know if they have died through the heat but I have placed water on the field. All the casualties were in tact and I have since found out that poison for Japanese knotweed has been placed on the field, I hope this hasn’t killed them.
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Hi Sandy. Yes I’m very glad I got home in time, I’d have been heart broken to find 2 dead baby hedgehogs on our lawn. How horrible for you finding 4 dead ones like that. Hope your adult one continues to thrive though.
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