A wildlife rescue centre has said we need to support hedgehogs in our gardens this winter as they say the mammals are close to becoming “endangered”.
Staff at Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre near Highbridge in Somerset are currently housing around 50 hedgehogs and have calls everyday about animals.
George Bethell from Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre said: “Numbers have declined quite a lot in the last 30 years so they are becoming endangered now.
“My top tips are cut a small hole in the bottom of your fence, create a hedgehog highway, put a bit of food out and make your gardens are a bit more natural.”
Secret World say they are seeing an “increase” in hedgehogs due to the sharp change of weather [BBC]
“Bonfire night’s approaching, so making sure that if you are building a bonfire you light it straight away and you don’t leave it because that gives animals an opportunity to go in and shelter,” Mr Bethell added.
“Build a log pile in the corner of your garden. Leave an area, you know, unmanaged. Let wildlife take over.
“And you could put some food out for them as well. So some meaty cat chunks in jelly and a little bowl of water is ideal if you want to support feed them,” he explained.
The rescue centre houses mammals from hedgehogs to injured birds [BBC]
Secret World recently held an educational event for families to learn more about hedgehogs.
Freddy, who made a hedgehog house, said: “Hedgehogs are critically endangered. Their numbers have been decreasing so much, so hopefully this house helps.
The session educated kids into making shelters and homes for hedgehogs [BBC]
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