WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND AN ANIMAL IN NEED OF HELP

hi,
My name is Lindsay and i run Burton Wildlife Rescue and Animal Centre in Burton on Trent which is located on the staffs/derbyshire border. We provide a 24 hour emergecy service for ill, injurewd and orphaned wildlife and we also take in a small number of unwanted or abandoned domestic animals. People using our service already include vets, the police and the county council. We cover most areas in the midlands (usually with 40miles of our main rescue - we have animals on land is ashby too - but we do travel further afield or ask people to meet half way) but also offer help and advice to people around the country.
Wildlife emergencies vary seaonally. In spring and summer we are inudated with orphan animals such as birds, foxes and other mammals etc... and during the winter we take in a large number of juveile and underweight hedgehogs.
General advice is available on our website under the advice section. www.freewebs.com/wildliferescueburton
however if you still need advice you can call me on 07780742748-24 hours a day.
Where possible put the animal in a box using gloves or a towel. However foxes, badgers, deer and some birds such as herons, swans and birds of prey can inflict injuries so if possible stay with the animal or observe it until help arrives.

Fantastic advice there

Thank you for posting this Lindsay. It's really good to have you here

Is there any way that I would be able to equip our garage (no electricity or running water) to rehabilitating hedgehogs? What would I need? This is something that I've wanted to do for ages, but I suspect that there's a lot more involved than I'm aware of.

hi
You will need a few cages. The best ones are this type . Avoid the indoor rabbit hutches as the bars are spaced too far apart. Cat carriers are also good. Re water - you can store water into containers or simply bring a jug of fresh water in each time you need it. Heating is essential in the winter due to high numbers of autumn juveniles and they need to be prevented from going into hibernation. We have a shed that is insulated and a portable heater. We sometimes use a heat lamp in extremely cold weather. You could put sideboards etc... easily in a garage. A source of light is also needed.
The essential things are:
Cages, heat pads (pref electric), newspaper and towels, a first aid kit containing hibiscrub, bandaging materials, forceps, flea comb, thermometer and cotton wool, low edged bowls, heater or heat lamp. It is a bonus if you can get a pen light as this will assess if older hedghogs out in the day are blind (we have a blind hedgehog here).
A good relationship with a vet is essential - im a qualified veterinary nurse so have no probs getting access to drugs at silly times in the night. Basically if you can get basic medications such as analgesics, antibiotics, fluids such as sodium chloride and wormers its a bonus. The vet can advise you on a dose for hedgehogs and show you how to give injections.
It is best to register as a carer with the BHPS (British hedgehog preservation society) as they can send you up to date reports on studies etc... They also have a useful book explaining different ailments in hedgehogs and a drug formulary is in the back.
Books i suggest you get are - Practical wildlife care by Les stocker and Exotics and Wildlife- a manual of veterinary nursing care. Both these books are helpful, not just for hedgehogs but fort other animal species.
They are quite dirty animals so you will need to disinfectant etc... to clean the cages and bowls. they do make a mess and will usually tread in the food before actually eating it!
The benefits of hedgehog rescue are apparennt when you release your first one. Its such a good feeling especially because they are now classed as an endangered species in the UK, however the stupid thing is they are offered no more protection other than what is is the Animal Welfare Act and Wildlife and Countryside Act

Wow, what a fantastic comprehensive reply. I'm surprised that they are endangered; we see so many of them on the roads around here

So basically, my first step would be to check with my vets that they would be ok with me doing it, as it would have to be in partnership and understanding with them to some extent.

I frequently see rabbit hutches on freecycle. Would these be acceptable to keep them in? They can really squeeze through the bars on those rabbit cages? Wow! They can seriously pancake themselves .. I'm amazed.

Newspapers are a problem. We've only had one free paper in the last two weeks, which isn't enough to do the rats let alone anything else. I do ask people to save their papers for me, but very few people actually bother.

On the bright side ... pen light is sorted

we have to ask for newspapers because we get through so many. Rabbit hutches are fine for the warmer weather but no so good in winter because they will go into hibernation.
Tell your local vets about your plans. The following webiste may be of some use to you http://www.bwrc.org.uk/ - list of basics is on the resources section, 2nd document down

Thank you for the link

What is the reason that they hibernate in hutches? Is it because they have a hidey place they can nest in? Or are they somehow colder than plastic thingies?

unless they are kept in a warm area they will hibernate. We have outdoor hutches but have plastic cages in the hospital area.

Well yes I figured that. I was wondering why a hutch was colder than a cat carrier though.

I thought you meant for keeping them outside in, sorry. The positives of hutches are that they are roomy and have a partition so the hedgehog can nest. I would not recommend them for poorly hogs though as they can harbour infections. Hedgehogs can be very dirty and a clean cage can transform into a mess within a few hours. They will often pull paper (with poo! and bowls) into a nesting area. If it is a hutch that is lined with plastic that would be better as it will be easier to disinfect

Noooo, I meant in our garage, which is the place anything would be. If cold is the reason that they hibernate then the garage is probably the wrong place for them ... I imagine, that no matter how much bedding I give them they'd still hibernate, right?

Hmmmm. Wish I knew how to get heating out there.

Its the change in temperature that starts hibernation so they only other way would be to bring them inside. However they can be smelly

Yeah we don't have the space in the house anyway

Nim - Regarding newspaper - why not use your local freecycle and ask for newspapers, plenty of people have the box full ready to go for recycling.

Good idea!