Ginny at Pembrokeshire Hogspital has issued the following appeal:

“Please, if you see a Hedgehog out in the daytime, don’t wait for hours. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, they do not sunbathe. A hedgehog out in the daytime is a sick or injured hedgehog. In fact, it is so sick, that it is dying. If you leave it too long it will die. (The only exception is a female hedgehog in breeding season, moving nests. But this situation is relatively easy to identify, as she will be moving with purpose carrying bedding. Breeding season is on its way.)

“If you see a Hedgehog in the daytime, please pick it up put it in a box with some bedding, a source of warmth, water and maybe some food. Then immediately contact your local rescue. These quick actions will save a hedgehog’s life...

“Please also put out water and food for hedgehogs and other wildlife all year round. This extended dry spell is lovely for us, but wildlife, like hedgehogs are really struggling to find enough food and water. They are waking up out of hibernation, or are young autumn juveniles: starving, weak, underweight and dehydrated. A shallow dish of water, and wet meaty cat or dog food in jelly is excellent food for a starving hedgehog.

“Feeding hedgehogs on sunflower hearts, peanuts and mealworms on a regular basis, without any extra nutritional food, will possibly cause a hedgehog to possibly get metabolic bone disease. This is a painful and often fatal disease. So please add extra nutritional foods such as meaty, wet food.

“We are seeing hedgehogs on a daily basis that have been seen out in the daytime they are really sick and need our immediate care. For the first time I am also seeing hedgehogs that are suffering from metabolic bone disease. Please help these hedgehogs by doing the right thing.”

Hedgehog Awareness Week 2022 is from May 1 to 7. Check out the ‘Pembrokeshire Hogspital’ Facebook page for lots of information and advice.