🦔 A hedgehog out in daylight is almost always in trouble — please read the advice below.

Leyland Hedgehog Rescue

We're a small volunteer rescue in Leyland, Lancashire, and we can't always get to the phone. If you've found a hedgehog that needs help, this page will tell you exactly what to do.

Go straight to a vet if…

Injured or smelly

The hedgehog is injured, or smells bad

Please take it straight to a vet. As a rescue we don't have anaesthetic or X-ray facilities, so a vet must see it first. Healthy hedgehogs don't smell — a bad smell usually means an infected injury.

Possible broken leg

It's dragging a leg, or rolled up with a leg sticking out

The leg will be broken and a vet is required. Take it to a vet.

Vets we recommend

Chorley Vets on Market Street — 01257 274767. They are great.

Vets4Pets in Leyland — 01772 432039. They do all they can to help.

Vets4Pets at the Capitol Centre — 01772 885038.

Ribble Vets in Penwortham — 01772 746393.

Medivet in Bamber Bridge — 01772 330103.

Rufford Vets in Rufford — 01772 954770.

✓ You should not be charged for wildlife!

Found a small hedgehog?

Hoglet — act now

If it fits in your hand, it's probably a hoglet needing immediate help

Wrap it up warm in a fleece, towel, or whatever is handy, and keep it warm and quiet.

Get help immediately — it may not be weaned yet and cannot survive long on its own. Use the rescue numbers below if we can't answer.

Out in daylight? That's a bad sign

No hedgehog sunbathes. A hedgehog lying out in the sun is dying — get help quickly.

Watch out for flies around it: they lay eggs that look like sawdust, which hatch into maggots that eat the hedgehog alive. If you see flies or "sawdust", act fast.

Good to know

Hedgehogs are nocturnal

They come out at dusk — in summer this can be as early as 6:30pm if they're hungry, as there aren't many hours of darkness.

As a general rule: if a hedgehog is out in daylight, it is in trouble. Seeing one at night is normal — please don't pick up a fit and well hedgehog. They freeze when you come near and stay frozen until they're sure you've gone.

The one exception

A mother taking a break

The only healthy hedgehog you may see in daylight is a mother escaping her babies for a quick rest, or gathering grass and bedding for a nest. She will be big, round and busy, and will curl up tight if you approach — leave her well alone.

If you're not sure, please get a daylight hedgehog checked by a rescue — it costs nothing and can save a life.

How to pick it up and keep it safe

Step 1

Pick it up with a towel or tea towel

Look it over for ticks and for fly eggs (the sawdust-like deposits). Don't try to remove ticks yourself — a rescue will deal with them safely.

Step 2

Put it in a deep, high-sided box

Hedgehogs are surprisingly good climbers — a deep box (a recycling box with newspaper in it is fine) keeps them safe. Tuck in a fleece or towel, and keep it warm and quiet. A covered warm water bottle or a heat pad under half the box is ideal.

Step 3

Travelling? No food or water in the box

Remove any food and water dishes before you set off, and pack the box so the hedgehog can't slide about while it's already terrified.

It's better not to feed a poorly hedgehog unless you can't get to a rescue quickly — in that case a little mashed-up cat or dog meat is good, as it's moist and helps if they're dehydrated. Never bread or milk.

Found or disturbed a nest?

Disturbed by mistake

Cover it back up and walk away

Do not touch the babies or peep in. If you do, the mother may abandon them — or worse, kill them to stop you harming them.

Nest destroyed by accident

Grab mum first

Keep her safe, then gather the babies together with their nesting material, and phone a rescue immediately (numbers below). The rescue will reintroduce mum to her babies when it's safe, so she can carry on feeding and caring for them.

Other rescues you can call

If we're unable to answer, these nearby rescues may be able to help. Tap a number to call it.

You can also contact the BHPS (British Hedgehog Preservation Society) on 01584 890801. They will know of new rescues where space may be available.

Stapeley Grange, the RSPCA Wildlife Hospital, is on 0300 123 0722.

HelpWildlife keep a list of rescues too — email directory@helpwildlife.co.uk or visit helpwildlife.co.uk.