Cleaning off the weed

 

We always treat a few hedgehogs during the summer, usually orphaned or left behind babies or those injured by mowers. Our latest casualty was slightly different. He had been found in the garden pond and was covered in weed! The photo shows us cleaning him off.

Fortunately hedgehogs are good swimmers, but they can’t climb up steep sides very well to get out if they fall in. This hedgehog will make a full recovery and will be returned to his garden tonight, but many are not found in time and drown.

So what can you do to help?

Place a ramp or a shingle bank to produce a safe exit from ponds.
Cover ponds over if this is not possible, but provide an alternative safe place for wildlife to drink.
Provide cat food for hungry hogs, their natural food of slugs can be in short supply during hot weather.