Injured and sick hedgehogs require specific care that differs from most other wildlife — knowing when and how to intervene makes the difference between survival and death.
Hedgehog rescue decisions require knowing when to intervene and when to leave an animal alone — both errors cause welfare harm. Intervening with a healthy nocturnal hedgehog found in a garden at dusk causes unnecessary stress. Leaving an underweight, injured or sick hedgehog without assistance results in preventable death. The decision framework is simple: daytime activity, rolling tightly in response to touch, obvious injury, and fly infestation all indicate an animal needing help. Nocturnal foraging, normal movement and responsiveness to approaching people indicate a healthy animal that should be observed but not handled.