Hedgehogs battling to survive cold

Hedgehogs are still struggling to hibernate in unprecedented numbers across Staffordshire, according to a rescue centre.

Joan Lockley, of West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue based in Cheslyn Hay, said she was called out as recently as Friday to pick up an underweight, starving hedgehog from Great Wyrley seen searching for food in the daylight. The rescue centre has picked up hedgehogs from across the region which weigh half as much as they should for hibernation.

They have been found in Rugeley, Cannock, Stafford, Stone and even parts of Birmingham and the Black Country.

For a hedgehog to stand a chance of hibernating until the spring it needs to build up a body weight of between 550 and 600 grammes, but Mrs Lockley said many of the hedgehogs she is still picking up are just 200 grams because a lot of them were born later than usual in the year and have been caught out by the cold snap.

She said: "They are desperately searching for food to try to build up fat to hibernate and it is not working. It's certain death. If you see them out in the daytime they are desperate."

They have rescued over 300 hedgehogs this year compared with 170 in 2007.

She added: "The levels this year are unprecedented but I have never known a year like this. We're usually finished by the end of October. We are absolutely run off our feet."

Her advice to anyone seeing a hedgehog out in day time is to throw a towel on it or put on gardening gloves to pick it up and take it inside in the warm and then ring her.

She added: "The very first time anyone sees a hedgehog in the daylight they need to fetch it in straightaway.

"The one thing people worry about is fleas but not many hedgehogs have fleas and those that do, the fleas won't jump onto and bite any other animals."

Call Mrs Lockley on 01922 419532 for more advice.