Hedgehog populations have declined significantly in the UK and across Europe, and casualty animals brought to wildlife rehabilitators represent both welfare challenges and conservation opportunities. Effective rehabilitation requires species-specific knowledge and welfare-focused protocols.
Hedgehog casualties fall into predictable categories: juvenile orphans (underweight, found alone before hibernation season); road traffic victims with varying degrees of injury; animals caught in garden equipment (strimmers, mowers, strimmers); those with entanglement injuries from netting or litter; animals with fly strike (myiasis); and those found out during the day (almost always indicating a problem). Each presentation requires different initial assessment and management.
Road casualty or juvenile hedgehogs are frequently hypothermic and hypoglycaemic. Gentle warming (heating pad on low under half the container, allowing thermoregulation) takes priority before feeding—a cold hedgehog cannot absorb food. Once normothermic, oral fluid therapy (warm electrolyte solution) and gradual food introduction (wet cat food, dried cat/dog biscuits, specialist hedgehog food) restores metabolic stability. Tube feeding may be required for critical cases.
Hedgehog spines complicate wound assessment and anaesthesia. Road traffic injuries frequently cause degloving injuries, limb fractures, and internal injuries. Enrofloxacin or amoxicillin-clavulanate under veterinary direction treats bacterial wound contamination. Fly strike injuries require thorough wound cleaning and maggot removal under anaesthesia. Wound dressings adapted for hedgehog anatomy prevent access by the animal and allow ventilation.
Orphaned juveniles below 300g require specialist care. Milk replacement feeds must be appropriate (cat milk replacer; not cow's milk) delivered by syringe every 2-3 hours initially. Socialisation with conspecifics where possible supports normal behavioural development. Juveniles must reach 600g minimum before first winter hibernation to survive—underweight juveniles released before this threshold face high mortality.
Rehabilitation timing relative to hibernation season is critical. Animals weighing less than 600g in autumn should be overwintered in care—outdoor hibernation at lower weights is fatal. Overwintered hedgehogs require adequate housing temperature fluctuation to mimic seasonal cues, appropriate feeding protocols, and preparation for spring release. Release sites should provide suitable habitat with adequate invertebrate prey and connectivity.
Rehabilitation success is measured not just by survival in care but by post-release survival and integration into wild populations. Release criteria include: minimum 600g weight, full mobility and sensory function, normal feeding behaviour, and absence of antibiotic treatment. Release sites should have hedgehog records, suitable habitat, and awareness from landowners. Soft release with continued food provision during the first two weeks improves outcomes.