At the GSPCA we currently have 113 hedgehogs in our care and they keep on coming.
Many will think that hedgehogs will be tucked up for the Winter by now but this is far from the truth.
Every day the GSPCA are rescuing and helping hedgehogs in need and many only a month or two old.
Publicity for hedgehogs often includes that they hibernate during the Winter months but unless the temperature is below 5C they struggle to huddle down for what should be a long slumber.
With the mild climate in Guernsey the Winter months are a yearly struggle for hedgehogs and the GSPCA are appealing to islanders to do what they can to help our spikey friends.
Hedgehogs in the last week currently in our care that have been rescued include Cauliflower, Max, Mars, Mushroom, Nobby No 5, Vic, Radish, Hedgehog Harvey, Tiny Clanger, Bisto, Patricia, Lee and Winnie and have been found with problems stretching from mange to extremely underweight, found in a rat trap to being dehydrated.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Of any one species we help more hedgehogs than any other single species of animals in our care at any time and through the year and this Winter is proving to be an extremely difficult time for our spikey garden friends.”
“It is hard to remember a day that we haven’t had hedgehogs rescued or brought into the Shelter and normally we are seeing many each day.”
“Day and night sick, injured, thin and poorly hedgehogs are being rescued around Guernsey and this week one very poorly hedgehog was Mars who was not only covered in mange but was also caught in a rat trap.”
“It’s really surprising how many young hedgehogs are being rescued and with our mild temperatures during the Winter Guernsey once again our island hedgehogs are struggling to hibernate and find enough food and Shelter.”
“The GSPCA is appealing to islanders to help Guernsey hedgehogs but ensuring where you can you put out food, water and even shelter and areas in your garden for them.”
“We are overflowing with 113 hedgehogs at the GSPCA and we have recently put in plans to build a new Wildlife Hospital which is much needed and we are appealing to islanders to Buy a Brick to help support this much needed facility to replace our older buildings.”
“There are many ways to help the hedgehogs at the GSPCA by becoming an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor to purchasing an item off of our Amazon Wish List and for any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at the GSPCA.”
Some ideas and ways to help your visiting hedgehogs -
- Why not leave an area of your garden ‘wild’, with piles of leaf litter and logs. These are an attractive nest as well as a home for the invertebrates (slugs, beetles) that hedgehogs like to eat.
- Make an artificial home this can be as simple as placing a piece of board against a wall or buy a purpose built hedgehog house.
- Put out food and fresh water will encourage hedgehogs to return. Leave out foods like tinned dog or cat food (not fish-based) and crushed dog or cat biscuits. Specialist hedgehog food is also recommended and can be bought from wildlife food suppliers and at the GSPCA.
- PLEASE NEVER feed hedgehogs milk as it can cause diarrhoea; instead provide plain, fresh water in a shallow bowl.
- Cover drains and holes and place bricks at the side of ponds to give hedgehogs an easy route out. Cover swimming pools overnight and when not in use.
- Check for hedgehogs before using strimmers or mowers, particularly under hedges where animals may rest. Check compost heaps for nesting hogs before forking over.
- Build bonfires as close to time of lighting as possible and check them thoroughly before lighting.
- Remove sports or fruit netting when not in use to prevent hedgehogs becoming entangled, and getting injured and ensure children’s netted toys like football goals or tennis type nets are put away when not in use.
- Slug pellets can poison hedgehogs and should only be used as a last resort. Instead try using one of many "natural" alternatives, like sprinkling crushed eggshells or coffee grounds around the plants you need to protect. If you have to use pellets, place them under a slate which is inaccessible to hedgehogs.
- Hedgehogs usually hibernate between November and mid March and animals must have enough fat reserves to survive hibernation. Making hedgehog homes in the garden and providing food will help hedgehogs.
- Juvenile hedgehogs weighing less than 500 grams during late autumn will need help to survive the winter and if you find a small looking hedgehog please call the GSPCA emergency number on 01481 257261 or pick it up in a towel and place in a box and transport it to the GSPCA where we are manned 24/7.
Find out what to do with injured or sick wildlife please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals/wildlife-advice
Here are some of the ways to help the hedgehogs at the GSPCA and our future plans –
Buy A Brick and Exclusive Build Partner Scheme to help with our New Wildlife Hospital
If you have visited one of the GSPCA recent events or stalls you may well have learned of the newly launched ‘Buy a Brick’ campaign to help the GSPCA achieve the propose new Wildlife Hospital.
The GSPCA currently treat over 2,000 wild animals and birds each year, this number continues to increase and our existing facilities can’t cope with the increase in demand, and are not fit for purpose. They desperately need a radical reorganisation and updating.
From seal pups to baby hedgehogs, kingfishers to buzzards, ducklings to loggerhead turtles, bats to voles the variety of wild animals and birds GSPCA help is vast.
To help achieve the new Wildlife Hospital we are launching our Exclusive Build Partner scheme and a Buy a Brick Scheme for individuals and businesses looking to support this much needed build.
The ‘Buy a Brick’ we have two options for you to choose:
Option 1: £250 have your family name or company logo engraved on a brick which will feature in the build of the Wildlife Hospital.
Option 2: £50 buy a brick for the build.
Multiple brick packages are also available.
To Buy a Brick in the new Wildlife Hospital and download a leaflet please click here - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Buy%20a%20Brick%20Wildlife%20Hospital.pdf
To learn more about our biggest project, become an Exclusive Build Partner and support our Wildlife Hospital please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-exclusive-build-partner
For details of our individual, as a gift, corporate sponsorship packages or to make a larger donation please contact Steve Byrne by calling 01481 257261 or email [email protected]
To visit our Amazon Wish list please visit - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList
To donate to the animals in our care please visit - www.paypal.me/DonateGSPCA
To become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor to sponsor the hoglets and support our work please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/angel-sponsorship-scheme-animals-needing-guernseys-everlasting-love
To see our Wish List on our website please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list
If you would like to help at one of our upcoming events please give Michelle a call on 257261 or email [email protected]
If you would like to find out more on how you can support the shelter and the animals in our care then please visit our fundraising page www.gspca.org.gg/fundraising
Another way to support us is our on site Charity Shop and refreshment area and to find out more please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-onsite-charity-shop
If your group or business would like to find out about spending a day at the Shelter please go to -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/corporate-and-group-days
For other ways your business can help us here at the GSPCA please go to -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/how-your-business-can-help-gspca-corporate-sponsorship
To find out our opening hours and when you can visit some of the animals in our care please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-opening-visiting-times
On Tuesday 4th December we have a volunteer induction evening and for more information and additional induction dates please visit http://gspca.org.gg/about/volunteers or call 257261
To set up a Just Giving page to do some fund raising for our work or animals in our care please visit - https://www.justgiving.com/gspca Or a Giving.gg page please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/0/Select-Guernsey-charity-for-direct-donation
Some awards open for nominations currently are –
The ADCH & Petplan Awards - https://www.petplan.co.uk/about-petplan/charities/
The Ceva Animal Welfare Awards – http://www.cevawelfareawards.com/
To find out more on trips, talks and our education work please email [email protected] or call 01481 257261
To see some of the animals looking for homes at the GSPCA please visit – http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals
To see some of the animals looking for homes please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/animals
To see our upcoming guided tours please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/services/guided-tours-gspca
To visit the details on the Urgent Kennel Floor Appeal please visit - www.gspca.org.gg/blog/urgent-kennel-floor-appeal-%E2%80%93-kennel-flooring-work-discovers-need-new-drains-and-completely-ripp
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