Baby hedgehog orphan rescued

Found beside its mother who had been trampled by a horse, this baby was only a few days old.  It was a bad sign that he was still outside in the daytime – he was likely to die quickly. He was rescued by Mandy Cotton who took him to Jacquie Wilson, a registered carer for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

Given the name Neil Hodgeheg, he was underweight and needed to be fed before he could be released back into the wild. However, he had a snotty nose which would prevent him finding food by smell. He needed help or he would not survive the winter.

The usual antibiotics and decongestants did not work well enough. Jacquie, who was releasing two other hedgehogs at Vav Simon’s farm in Ryde, asked her advice on homeopathy. Vav is a chiropractor for animals at her Natural Therapy Centre for Animals with great experience of many other therapies. She was able to suggest a remedy which Jackie added to the treatment programme and Neil’s nose cleared up completely.

Over a couple of weeks, Neil Hodgeheg gained weight to normal levels and was released at Vav’s farm. Her children helped place his cardboard box under an old overgrown hedge. They left some food outside and he immediately started to explore. He was interested in the food, and in the dark inside the hedge, but he quickly went back inside his box. Two days later, it was empty - he had disappeared to start a new life.

Hedgehogs seem to be in decline on the Island and the IW Natural History & Archaeological Society is conducting a survey and would be glad to hear of any sightings the public makes.