Save Wirral Hedgehogs
Donation protected
THE HOYLAKE HEDGEHOGS
Hedgehogs – love em or hate em – they are here to stay. Hedgehogs have been the mystery garden dwellers of childhood story books for centuries but what do we really know about them?
Well – they are closer than you think. In fact, as hedgehogs travel up to half a mile every night in search of food, they are probably closer than you think.
Hard facts:-
The hedgehog is a small insectivorous mammal covered with sharp defensive spines. It is almost entirely nocturnal, and feeds on ground-dwelling invertebrates including slugs and snails. It also eats the eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds, sometimes to devastating effect (Jackson & Green 2000). It likes a varied habitat, and often visits suburban gardens (Sedgly 1991).
The hedgehog benefits from partial protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981).
Hedgehogs are wild animals and are best left alone to get on with their hedgehog-business but they can be severely impacted by our human activities. Slug pellets – for example – big no no – they will kill them – bread and milk – er no – they eat meat…….
Every year in Wirral, more than 100 hedgehogs are found in distress – too hot – too cold, hungry, injured or sick. Until recently there have been a couple of options for the public and local vets when hedgehogs in need have been found, but with centres closing and people =-moving on, Wirral hedgehogs were about to reach a crisis with nowhere to go!
Wirral Animal Sanctuary has always had a few spaces for hedgehogs but has now stepped up to fill that gap. Having secured suitable premises in West Wirral, the sanctuary is now taking in any hedgehogs in need. Once the centre is set up and ready for visitors, we will be happy to accept visitors by appointment.
What we will need, is your support. While we have lots of food and hedgehog houses now, we will still have to find the rent for our hedgehog haven and the funds to pay the vet bills. That’s the downside of caring – on the upside, we will also be happy to train up willing volunteers to help us care for them and anyone who wishes to sponsor a hedgehog (or two) can have up to date reports on their chosen hog, and be named (if they want) in our Hedgehog Haven Hall of Fame.
Once we have finished designing our lesson plans we will be able to come and visit you in schools – and groups can come and see us by arrangement of course – and together we can spread the word about these special little creatures.
We even have plans for “Hog-Cam” so you can keep an eye on a hog or two from afar.
So - want to get involved in supporting West Wirral’s “Naturewatch” and Hedgehog Rescue? Give us a call, drop us a line – or pop into one of our Animal Sanctuary shops in Birkenhead, Moreton or Hoylake.
Hedgehogs – love em or hate em – they are here to stay. Hedgehogs have been the mystery garden dwellers of childhood story books for centuries but what do we really know about them?
Well – they are closer than you think. In fact, as hedgehogs travel up to half a mile every night in search of food, they are probably closer than you think.
Hard facts:-
The hedgehog is a small insectivorous mammal covered with sharp defensive spines. It is almost entirely nocturnal, and feeds on ground-dwelling invertebrates including slugs and snails. It also eats the eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds, sometimes to devastating effect (Jackson & Green 2000). It likes a varied habitat, and often visits suburban gardens (Sedgly 1991).
The hedgehog benefits from partial protection under the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981).
Hedgehogs are wild animals and are best left alone to get on with their hedgehog-business but they can be severely impacted by our human activities. Slug pellets – for example – big no no – they will kill them – bread and milk – er no – they eat meat…….
Every year in Wirral, more than 100 hedgehogs are found in distress – too hot – too cold, hungry, injured or sick. Until recently there have been a couple of options for the public and local vets when hedgehogs in need have been found, but with centres closing and people =-moving on, Wirral hedgehogs were about to reach a crisis with nowhere to go!
Wirral Animal Sanctuary has always had a few spaces for hedgehogs but has now stepped up to fill that gap. Having secured suitable premises in West Wirral, the sanctuary is now taking in any hedgehogs in need. Once the centre is set up and ready for visitors, we will be happy to accept visitors by appointment.
What we will need, is your support. While we have lots of food and hedgehog houses now, we will still have to find the rent for our hedgehog haven and the funds to pay the vet bills. That’s the downside of caring – on the upside, we will also be happy to train up willing volunteers to help us care for them and anyone who wishes to sponsor a hedgehog (or two) can have up to date reports on their chosen hog, and be named (if they want) in our Hedgehog Haven Hall of Fame.
Once we have finished designing our lesson plans we will be able to come and visit you in schools – and groups can come and see us by arrangement of course – and together we can spread the word about these special little creatures.
We even have plans for “Hog-Cam” so you can keep an eye on a hog or two from afar.
So - want to get involved in supporting West Wirral’s “Naturewatch” and Hedgehog Rescue? Give us a call, drop us a line – or pop into one of our Animal Sanctuary shops in Birkenhead, Moreton or Hoylake.
Organizer
Wirral Animal Sanctuary
Organizer
