London Colney Hedgehog Rescue (LCHR) has saved four hoglets which were found at St John’s Infant School in Radlett.
The four babies had been discovered in a dressing-up area of the school. The mother was last seen on Thursday, June 15. Until LCHR arrived, the students ensured the babies were not disturbed and the mother had full access to find them, by making signs to keep humans away and reminding those walking near to be quiet.
Two days later, the mother still had not returned, resulting in LCHR taking the babies in and nursing them, in the hopes of eventually releasing them back into the wild.
Esther Chant, founder and trustee of LCHR, spoke to Radlett News and said: “In the 1950s, there were an estimated 36 million hedgehogs in Britain. Sadly today, the estimate is under one million. Too much habitat loss, unable to gain access through people’s gardens and more busy roads are some of the reasons why the hedgehog is disappearing.”
LCHR takes in on average 275 hedgehogs each year from different areas in Hertfordshire and currently has 95 animals in its care. Esther explained the best ways to ensure your area is as hedgehog friendly as possible, including cutting small holes in your fences to create a ‘hedgehog highway’ to allow the creatures to move freely, as well as removing hazards such as drain covers or netting.
Esther added: “You can support feed them with meaty cat/dog food or cat biscuits in a hedgehog feeding station. This provides them with protection from foxes and stops the local cat burglars from stealing their food.”
For more information on how to support your prickly friends, head to www.facebook.com/londoncolneyhedgehogrescue/?locale=en_GB
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