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A Prickly Problem

Why some of our most illusive creatures have gotten under my skin

By Holly ProbertPublished 4 years ago 3 min read
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My first experience photographing a wild hedgehog.

We don't see these little guys very often, sadly more often that not we see a dead hedgehog on the road and never get to set eyes on a live one. now I wouldn't say I am an activist as such, I enjoy country sports and people often seem to think that this makes me a murderous and horrid human.... How wrong you are. I truly believe that any wildlife that needs a helping hand should get a helping hand, regardless of species, status or anything else. Currently the plight of our beautiful and spiky little hedgehogs is really tugging at my heart strings.

They meet death on the roads because their defence is to roll up... no match for a car. They meet death in our gardens because we use pesticides to kill the insects, slugs and snails that they eat to survive. We try to give them a helping hand by leaving out bread and milk.... innocent ignorance and misinformation adding to the demise of these awesome little hogs as they are lactose intolerant.

There has to be something we can do right, some way to help these guys, they have just slipped into the vulnerable to extinction category which means we have been slow to respond to their plight. So what exactly can we do.

Luckily there are many ways that we can give them a helping hand. The following information came from the wonderful Malvernhedgehogrescue worcestershire. Mob No. 07780 834411. Please support this brilliant cause in helping to care for injured and sick hedgehogs, giving them a chance to return to the wild.

How can you help your local wild hedgehogs.

1. Make a CD sized hole in your fence to act as a hedgehog highway

2.Make an easy exit route out of ponds and check daily to make sure no hogs have fallen in. Though they are good swimmers they will tire and drown if they are unable to get out.

3.Keep garden netting, twine etc 12 inches above the ground to avoid hogs getting tangled. If you do find a tangled hog take it to a rescue immediately. Even if you cant see any obvious damage freeing the hog can release toxins that can kill them.

4.Check a garden thoroughly before strimming or mowing, use hands and feet or a blunt object to check for sleeping and nesting hogs.

5. If you have a dog and you no their are hogs around make sure that you don't let the dogs near, despite popular belief these little guys are very vulnerable to dog attacks.

6.Create little feeding stations, leave shallow dishes of water and small amounts of cat or dog food in jelly (no gravy) Please DON'T Feed bread and milk.

7. If you do find an injured hog or see a hedgehog out in daylight, capture it, contain it and call your nearest rescue for advice.

I genuinely believe that if enough people give these guys a helping hand, we can help them to climb back to a stable population. The sooner we take action the better, get your community involved, see if your garden could be a release site. Talk to local charities about how to attract these awesome little critters.

I am hoping that my photography can help to bring awareness and to encourage people to engage and help our local wildlife. Have a look on our website at www.propawtraits.net and check out our prints and other merchandise. All of your favourite wildlife will be featured, and all photographs are shot by myself. Check out the video below for an easy way to make a feeding station that our pets cant get into!

hedgehog
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