Hedgie
Around ten years ago, we found a cold little hoglet eating the bird food in our front garden in the depths of a freezing cold autumn. He was tiny and fit and full of life and health, but we knew he could not hibernate. We named him Hedgie. We phoned every rescue we could find to no avail; all were full. We worked out that the best way to care for him was to provide some heat, food and water, and we kept him in a large box in the garage over winter. By some miracle, he survived our โcareโ and grew to 1.3 kg by early spring. We released him at Lotherton Hall, where I fondly hope his descendants still roam today.
Our success with Hedgie was not replicated. I would take in the little hoglets in autumn, but when they fell sick, I took them to the vets, who would only give me panacur, which was about as much use as feeding them chocolate cake in terms of a treatment. It took until the advent of really useful information on the internet before we were able to succeed with sick hoggies, especially the dreaded Autumn Juveniles, along with the help of a couple of helpful and supportive vets. Vale Wildlife began publishing treatment protocols online, and we began buying medicines from many sources to treat the poorly patients.
In 2017, I joined a facebook based group of hedgehog rescuers, where, with the occasional conflict of opinion, experienced hoggie rescuers exchange information and support each other, which has been absolutely invaluable. Iโve joined more informal local ones since then where we support each other and share information. Now, I save some and I lose some (less than it used to be). But mostly, I am just trying to tip the balance of fate back in favour of each adorable little individual hoggie. Some of their sweet little personalities have been permanently etched on my soul, and my husband Jamesโs : Hedgie, Pumpkin, Harley, Alfie, Gustave, Lelouch, Button, VP, Smurf, Scar, Boss Baby.
Updated October 2020.
