A hedgehog with an obvious injury will need help. For serious injuries, it's best to take them directly to a vet. Vet practices usually have a rescue they can pass casualties onto for rehabilitation following emergency treatment. You will not be obliged to pay any charges to take the hedgehog to a vet as every vet has a duty of care to prevent suffering to all wild animals.
Hedgehogs are prey animals so they usually stick to area perimeters, hiding in bushes and hedges (hence the name), so as not to be detected by predators. Their eyesight isn't great but they make up for it with an acute sense of smell and very sharp hearing. If they sense your presence, they will usually curl up in a ball but they may also just freeze, hoping you can't see them. Once you leave, they should toddle off on their way. If you return half an hour later and they are still in the same spot, they probably need help and you should contact your local rescue.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and crepuscular, which means they are active from dusk until dawn. A hedgehog appearing out in the day is almost always in trouble - once a hedgehog becomes so sick that it's body begins to shut down, they will be hypothermic so will come out seeking warmth - 'out in the day is not okay'. Two exceptions to this rule occur in the Summer 1) An expectant mum could be out collecting nesting materials for the imminent arrival of hoglets or 2) A mum nursing young hoglets may pop out for a quick drink in between feeds. In both cases, the hedgehog will be 'moving with purpose' - they will be on a mission to do what they need to do and get back out of sight as quickly as possible. A hedgehog sitting or lying out in the open will need help from a rescue. Please DO NOT DELAY, get the hedgehog help straight away.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) have produced this helpful leaflet explaining when a hedgehog needs help and what to do. If you are in any doubt, please call us for advice.
Thank you to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society for giving us permission to use this infographic.
FLIES: If you spot a hedgehog surrounded by flies, it has either been in the same spot for a while or it may have a wound that's attracting them. It needs help immediately as the flies will have laid eggs (flystrike) on the hog. In these circumstances, follow the advice on the BHPS poster but DO NOT add a heat source. These tiny, white, rice-shaped eggs will quickly gestate and turn into maggots which will eat it alive. Such is the harsh reality of life in the wild.
HOGLETS: If you see one or more hoglets on their own, it is best not to pick it up straight away. Please contact us and monitor from a short distance away to see if mum returns. We will likely come out to assess the situation. It is sometimes possible to return little ones to the nest, if it can be located. There are also special considerations for rescuing small hoglets.
NEST: If you accidentally disturb a nest, cover it up again and contact us for advice.
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