RSPCA braced for a "hectic" hedgehog season

A hedgehog is held by the Duchess of Cornwall Credit: PA Images

The RSPCA is bracing for what it says could be a hectic hedgehog season, as it prepares to help thousands of the creatures in the coming weeks.

The charity recieved a total of 6,200 hedgehog related calls in 2020 - of these 1,855 were made in July and August alone.

Last year, an average of five hedgehogs a day were admitted to one of the charity's four specialist wildlife centres.

In July and August this number rises to around 8 per day.

A rescued hedgehog is carried on a towel for the handlers protection after being weighed by a wildlife care assistant Credit: PA Images

The top reason given by callers, when they contacted the charity, was that they had found a sick or injured animal.

In response the RSPCA has issued tips to keep hedgehogs safe in garden areas.

  • Remember to remove sports and fruit netting

  • Cover drains and holes

  • Check before using a strimmer or mower

  • Look in compost heaps before forking over

  • Avoid using slug pellets as these are poisonous to hedgehogs.

A rescued hedgehog is carried by an RSPCA worker Credit: PA Images

The RSPCA's Scientific Officer Evie Button said: 

"July and August are our busiest months for hedgehogs. Not only do calls about hedgehogs peak, but so do admissions to our four wildlife centres as members of the public and our own officers bring in orphaned, sick or injured animals for treatment and rehabilitation.  

"We receive more calls about hedgehogs than about almost any other wild mammal. With a total of 6,200 calls taken last year, averaged out, we get about 17 calls a day relating to these iconic and beautiful animals."