Help protect hedgehogs for the future

Hedgehogs have become an endangered species because of their severely declining numbers but one Kirkby woman is doing her bit to help save our prickly friends.
Wendy Radford of Cedar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kirkby with Frank the rescued baby hedgehog.Wendy Radford of Cedar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kirkby with Frank the rescued baby hedgehog.
Wendy Radford of Cedar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kirkby with Frank the rescued baby hedgehog.

Wendy Radford opened the Cedar Wildlife Sanctuary at Kirkby in the early 1990s and has dedicated her time since to helping animals.

With hibernation time upon us, Wendy is pleading to the public to help protect hedgehogs.

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“The amount of hedgehogs in this country is going down each year and we have no-one or nothing to blame except ourselves,” said Wendy. “Hedgehogs are the gardeners’ best friend as they eat worms, beetles, slugs and caterpillars and they are necessary for biodiversity.”

Wendy is asking Chad readers to be on the look-out for hedgehogs in trouble this autumn and take them to the centre where they can be cared for.

“If they are not big enough - weighing 600g or more - then they will not be able to hibernate and survive the winter,” explained Wendy. “If you see an underweight hedgehog please bring it to the centre and we will give it an MOT and take care of it until the spring.”

Part of that care programme includes worming, giving vitamin supplements and anti-biotics and keeping it in a heated environment before releasing it into a suitable area where it can thrive and breed.

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“Don’t be afraid to pick them up for fear of fleas either,” added Wendy. “Very few hedgehogs actually have fleas and even if they do they can’t transfer to dogs or cats.

“And if you see a hedgehog out in the day then it is in trouble and is poorly and needs help.”

Wendy also suggested ways of encouraging the hedgehog population by opening up our gardens or even making holes in fencing that they can crawl through.

“Please don’t use slug pellets and try and have an area that is untidy where they can seek warmth where leaves, sticks and grass can pile up”

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Wendy also warned gardeners to be careful and look out for them before starting bonfires or stabbing into compost heaps.

“It is very warm in the middle of a compost heap which can make a terrific home for them. So beware when stabbing your fork into it and check bonfires before lighting.”

Cedar Wildlife Sanctuary are also in need of donations of dog and cat food as well as wild bird feed.

“And if anyone can help donate cleaning fluids like disinfectant - this will also be put to good use,” added Wendy.

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For more information visit: www.cedarwildlifesanctuary.co.uk or call 07792475736 or visit them at Cedar Avenue, Kirkby.

Reasons for the decline of hedgehogs

Intensive agriculture- bigger fields and less hedgerows

Increased use of pesticides - reduces the amount of prey available

Smaller, tidier, paved gardens with fencing that prevents hedgehogs moving between gardens

New buildings and roads - destroy suitable habitat and smaller populations can become isolated

Road traffic- tens of thousands of hedgehogs are killed on our roads each year

Badgers - natural predator of hedgehogs

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