Ledbury Focus November 2019 Ledbury Focus November 2019 v3 | Page 10

Ledbury Hedgehog Rescue Ann Cam Primary School Dymock Ann Cam continues to be a Good School I have been rescuing hedgehogs in conjunc- tion with Ledbury Park vets for eight years. Loss of habitat due to new builds, starvation, lung worm and injury are the greatest problems for hedgehogs. ‘... an harmonious, supportive environment in which children learn well, are happy, safe and secure.’ Ofsted March 2017 6-minute drive from Ledbury Spaces available Enquiries and visits welcome tel: [phone] email: [email protected] with over 30 years experience Fully insured Plant Operator:- FOUNDATIONS DRAINAGE OLD OR NEW KERB LAYING EDGING BLOCK PAVING TURFING & FENCING GARDEN LANDSCAPING GARDEN MAINTENANCE All at competitive prices! Telephone Mick Kitchin 07533 264989 anytime 01531 635705 evenings 10 I house the hogs in rabbit hutches in my heated summerhouse, where they are injected four times weekly for lung worm, ticks are removed and flystrike is dealt with. Those under 200 grams live in my house and the smell is dreadful! The hogs are fed on Royal Canine Mother & Baby Cat pellets, which are liked the most, and lots of rainwater to drink. Fortunately I have many ecologist friends who help me place the males in appropriate locations. The females which, surprisingly only number one in ten, go back to where they came from. Hedgehogs are much tougher than people realise. They can climb rabbit wire and they swim well. Dangers to them are steep-sided ponds, holes in the ground, slug pellets, anti- freeze, strimmers, roads and badgers, who love to eat them. A friend in Swindon even saw a seagull kill one in his garden and eat it. If you find a hedgehog in daylight there is usually a problem. Eyes are a good indicator of health. They should be bright and protrude. Hedgehogs with babies should not be moved – just leave out food and water nearby, as she will move them that night if disturbed. Any hogs less than 550 grams will not survive over winter, so put out cat food and water near a garden shed as they love to live under them. Make sure your fences have holes under them so the hogs can squeeze through. One last bit of advice: make sure none are under your bonfire before you set it alight. * * * * * Anyone finding a hedgehog in distress should call Jill McAree on 01531 670837. To advertise call 01684 833715 or email: [email protected]