Hedgehog Rescue and Rehabilitation Welfare

Hedgehog rehabilitation requires specialist knowledge to avoid common mistakes that cause welfare harm despite good intentions from rescuers.

Key Facts

British Hedgehog Preservation Society has a nationwide rescue finder network
Juvenile hedgehogs under 450g in autumn need supplementary feeding to survive winter
Cow's milk causes diarrhoea and can kill hedgehogs — water and cat food are correct
Hedgehogs are nocturnal — one seen in daylight is usually injured or ill
Supplementary food should be cat or dog food, not bread or milk

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare in rescue contexts is easily compromised by well-intentioned but incorrect interventions: feeding cow's milk causes fatal gastrointestinal disease; using improper bedding causes hypothermia; releasing animals prematurely results in starvation. Welfare-positive rehabilitation requires species-specific knowledge and connection to experienced rehabilitators. The growing network of hedgehog rehabilitation volunteers, supported by the BHWT and local rescue organisations, is providing increasingly professional welfare for an increasingly common casualty species.

What You Can Do

Contact BHWT rescue finder before attempting hedgehog rehabilitation
Never feed hedgehogs milk — provide water and meat-based cat food instead
Warm a cold hedgehog slowly using a warm water bottle wrapped in towels
Contact your nearest wildlife hospital for any hedgehog found in daylight
Support BHWT with donations to fund rescue network development