If you are a regular reader of the Stroud News & Journal you will have been able to keep up with our monthly article in the Green Scene.
So what happened in October? No Green Scene! So here is the article which would have been in ............
News
from Help a Hedgehog Hospital
We've now passed the Autumnal Equinox and the nights are drawing in
fast! Temperatures are still fairly warm so the hedgehogs will be out
and about each evening looking for food. Please continue to put out
dry or wet cat food for them as they need all the food they can get
at this time of year in order to boost their fat reserves for
hibernation. Don't forget to leave out fresh water as well, as this
is vital for all wildlife.
Young hogs born towards the end of the summer will be trying to make
their own way now, and you may well find small hedgehogs in your
garden. While they may be perfectly healthy, please pick them up and
weigh them, as if they weigh less than 450 gm now, they will not be
big enough to survive the winter. As hedgehog numbers have declined
so rapidly over the last couple of decades, it is an important part
of our work to ensure that as many as possible of these little ones
are cared for over the winter to be released in the spring, to carry
on their life cycle.. Please contact us if you find a small hog –
160 underweight autumn juveniles made it through last winter in our
care.
Hedgehogs need to be a minimum weight of at least 500 – 600gm to
survive the winter.
It is also important to contact us quickly if you see a hog out in
the daytime, or an injured one, as delay can mean the difference
between life and death. Hedgehogs do not hibernate or sleep in the
open – if a hog is not moving it is either very poorly or already
dead.
Also at this time of year we have to issue the usual warnings about
bonfires and strimmers – gardeners are out tidying up – please
check before strimming as they cause horrific injuries, and unlit
bonfires are attractive to hedgehogs – with obvious and distressing
results if they are lit some days later. The rule must be – light
the bonfire the day it is built!
Our
talks team will be happy to talk about our work with hedgehogs to
groups large and small – please call John on 01453 885653 to book a
talk. We do ask for a donation, and we have some merchandise to sell
to help our funds. Thanks to all who supported our stall at the
Stroud Festival of Nature and Frampton Country Fair – we rely on
your help! Our next event is our Autumn Hibernation event at the
Arkell Centre on Saturday 19th
October. We hope to see you there! For contact details and more
information, please see our website http://www.helpahedgehog.org/
