THE RSPCA is fearing for the health of hedgehogs across the West Country and beyond, as it experiences its busiest hedgehog season nationwide for three years, with intake numbers so far this year already higher than the whole of 2023.

As of 11 November, 2,002 hedgehogs have already been taken in this year by the charity’s four wildlife centres. 

Somerset’s RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre has so far admitted 388 hedgehogs this year, and staff fear there are many more to come before the year ends.

Numbers across England and Wales are already 54% higher than in 2022 (1,296), and surpassing the 1,928 who were admitted during the entirety of last year (2023).

David Couper, vet at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre, said: “Every winter we admit large numbers of young hedgehogs at RSPCA West Hatch Wildlife Centre.

"These have typically been born in late summer or autumn, and have not had time to put on enough reserves to see them through hibernation.

"As a result, they are frequently found trying to find food during the day, when they should be hidden and resting. They are thin, dehydrated, and often suffering from parasites - having a long, thin appearance, instead of the more familiar round ball of prickles."

The team at the rescue centre are currently in need of newspapers, magazines or shredded paper to keep our hedgehogs clean and warm over the winter period. 

The team uses newspaper to line their houses, and shredded paper as bedding to keep them warm and to give them somewhere to hide and feel safe.

Any donations of newspaper, magazines and long cut shredded paper, free of staples and debris are gratefully received. These can be dropped off at the centre between 8am-9pm daily.

The RSPCA’s four wildlife centres are at West Hatch in Taunton, Somerset, Stapeley Grange in in Nantwich, Cheshire, East Winch near King’s Lynn, Norfolk and Mallydams Wood - near Hastings in East Sussex.

In September and October this year, traditionally a busy period for helping stricken hogs, 659 were admitted to RSPCA wildlife centres across the country - compared to 545 for the same period last year.

Many of these were found out during the day, a sign they were sick or injured, while others were young hedgehogs who needed to put on more weight to survive hibernation over winter. 

Thankfully, the public is doing their bit to help. More than three quarters (77%) of 2023’s admissions were brought to the charity’s wildlife centres directly by concerned citizens, and the RSPCA is keen for even more people to know what to do if they see a stricken hedgehog, as this helps free the charity’s frontline rescue officers to focus on animals which have been neglected or abused.

David added: “With proper supportive care, many of these young hedgehogs will make a good recovery, and can be released during the winter, during periods of milder weather, in suitable gardens, where hedgehog houses and supportive feeding are provided.

"Given the worrying decline in hedgehog numbers, it's important that we all do what we can to help them through the harsher months of the year.”