Hedgehogs are the UKs only spiny mammal; there are 17 species throughout the world and all have in common the spines. They're mainly nocturnal, although they can be seen out in the daytime during pregnancy when they are building nests and prior to a hibernation period. They have between 5,000-7,000 spines covering their body and through a drawstring, muscular action, they can protect themselves from most predators.
They are born spineless, but within 24 hours white spines will appear and within 3 weeks they are fully covered in soft spines which harden over the following few weeks.
During hibernation, their heartbeat slows down to 20 beats a minute allowing them to slowly use up fat reserves that they have built up. They do not hibernate to avoid the cold - hedgehogs can withstand quite severe temperatures - they hibernate because their food sources disappear. In areas where people feed regularly in the garden, we often see the hedgehogs stay awake during the winter period.
Historically, hedgehogs have lived happily and successfully within dense hedges which used to cover much of the UK. With smaller gardens and more wooden fence panels, the populations have become segregated. Not only does this affect their ability to roam and feed, it also affects their ability to provide safe nest sites to have their young in. Fallen trees and dense piles of wood make safe nesting sites for hedgehogs to crawl in amongst and be safe from predation. Compost heaps are also ideal places for hedgehogs to feed and have their young. Over the last 10 years, we have seen many factors come into play that have caused the demise of a once very common mammal. The decline is so drastic that it is up to all of us to ensure that this mammal remains in the UK. Providing nesting sites is essential; leaving wood piles, fallen trees and dense hedges, along with man-made hedgehog houses are still the best ways to ensure they have a choice of safe locations.
Hazards
Prior to being involved with releasing hedgehogs, we would ask that you check that your garden is safe from hedgehog hazards.
The Soft Release Procedure
If an adult hedgehog arrives with us with a relatively simple injury and is healthy in other ways, we release them back to the area they came from and soft release isn't always used for this process. On all other occasions, we only use soft release. We have found this to be successful and to greatly benefit the hedgehogs and to increase the chances of hedgehog populations thriving.
Our soft release programmes are quite strict; over the last 30 years we think we have come up with a solution that benefits the hedgehogs and puts their well being first. Not all locations and gardens are suitable for soft release. When releasing orphaned hedgehogs back to the wild we have found our soft releases runs to be the best way to ensure the highest chances of survival. It creates a safe nest for them to slowly explore the outside from, just like a hoglet emerging from its wild nest. They will explore the immediate area and scent mark and eventually start exploring further afield and finally moving out of the release run.
Soft release runs at our rescue have evolved over many years and this year (2018) we are now manufacturing our own modular runs made from heavy duty galvanised mesh complete with our heavy metal hedgehog house and silver grace portal.
The release runs have evolved based on many factors. We realise the cost may be probative for many people but our first duty is to the precious hedgehogs we are releasing back. The new runs cover the problems we have encountered in the past. Many of you have waited a long time for these details and for that we apologise but we have been perfecting modulars that keep our hoglets safe and will last for many years. This year we have experienced many previously unseen problems with previously built runs and after much debate we have decided to change to this modular.
The Toal cost is £2,560
This includes the entire run built, galvanised and set up in your garden.
Once ordered the runs will take 12 weeks to manufacture and fit. We now install and set up the run ourselves and once set up, two to three hedgehogs are released in the run.
For period of several weeks they would be contained and fed and watered after that period the Silver hedgehog portal would be opened. They now feel safe in the run and they are aware of the smells around them. The portal is left open and the hedgehogs are free to leave or come and go as they like. It simulates the same process that would happen when a young hoglets leave the nest. They will have a safe place to come back to every night just like their nest would of been in the wild.
They will eventually settle elsewhere. Once the silver hedgehog portal is opened it will stay that way for several weeks. and the hoglets will slowly leave the run, but they will have a safe, familiar place where they can return during that period. After a period the run is shut and cleaned and the process can start again During the winter months and with older hedgehogs, some hoglets and long term patients the portal opening times can vary . Each hedgehog group will come with a complete care package and time plan.
To be able to go ahead with hedgehog release form us you will need to purchase a run and attend our Release Course - this will cover the release process, soft release procedure and any questions you may have about this. If you are interested please fill in the form on the lick below and click submit. We will then contact you via email. Filling in the form doesn't commit you to anything it just starts you on the information journey.
Once you have clicked submit the form will automatically be sent to us. Don't panic if nothing appears to happens, we try and contact you within 14 days. Thank You. Click here to fill in the form.
Our first commitment is always to the hedgehogs we release.