1. Rescue and first aid
Urgent intake and stabilisation. A hedgehog that has just been found is almost always cold and dehydrated, and that is treated first: warmth, fluids and quiet. Only once it is stable is a closer examination worthwhile. Triage happens on arrival.
2. Veterinary treatment
A veterinarian examines every hedgehog and decides on its care. The most common reasons for admission are mower injuries, dog bites, entanglement in netting, flystrike, and poor condition caused by parasites. Care includes wound management, parasite treatment, fluids and pain relief as needed — the goal is always the hedgehog’s return to the wild.
3. Rehabilitation and release
Gradual recovery in naturalistic outdoor enclosures. Weight is monitored, foraging ability is assessed, and human contact is kept to a minimum so the hedgehog does not become tame. Release is into suitable habitat — preferably where the hedgehog was found.
4. Advice and education
Community outreach, school visits and public awareness of hedgehog conservation. Most of the hedgehogs that end up in care could have been spared: check the bush before mowing, remove netting, leave a gap in the fence. We publish two guides anyone can use.
The year round
The hedgehog year is uneven. In spring, animals emerging from hibernation are thin and vulnerable. Summer brings the injuries: mowers, dogs, netting. From late summer into autumn the focus shifts to juveniles — animals too small to survive hibernation without help. In winter, those in care are typically the ones that did not grow enough in time.
Volunteers
Rehabilitation is hands-on work: feeding, cleaning, weighing and record-keeping, every single day. Volunteers are trained for the role, and everyone starts with an induction before their first shift.
How you can help
Right now what we need most is hands, lifts, and gardens that are safe for hedgehogs.