Our Parkhead Resource Centre members found themselves on something of a mercy mission last week. When Centre manager, Claire Graham, stopped to pick up an injured hedgehog on her way to work, her activities group whisked it off to the Northumberland hedgehog rescue centre in Longframlington.
At first, the hedgehog wouldn’t uncurl and they couldn’t establish if it was a boy or a girl (it’s a boy!) so one of the group, Shane, decided on the name ‘Bon-bon’ after his favourite sweets.
The group saw the hedgehog being weighed – he was over 900 gms which is a good healthy weight for an adult hog, and receiving some treatment. Then they were introduced to some of the other hedgehogs in residence there and learned some interesting facts from the staff.
Claire said, “We learned the importance of being vigilant for hedgehogs that are out during daylight hours or appear injured. They will need urgent treatment and care. Most vets will treat them and contact rescue centres.”
“They are fascinating to watch and leaving food and water in your garden will attract them. Both wet and dry cat food are ideal, but never bread and milk because they can’t digest it.”
The latest bulletin on Bon-bon is that he is doing well, receiving steroids and enjoying his cosy heat pad. When he has recovered, he will be given back to Claire so she can release him into the wild where she originally found him.