Wellingborough Animal Charity Hedgehogs in desperate need of food donations
An animal charity near Wellingborough has asked for help to feed the unprecedented number of hedgehogs in its care.
The staff at Animals In Need in Little Irchester currently care for 170 hedgehogs who munch on about 40 cans of dog and cat food per day.
With more and more stricken hedgehogs arriving every day, the charity has asked for food donations to inflate the creatures at the shelter.
Lizzie Collins, wildlife manager at the resort, said: “We currently have around 170 hedgehogs wintering with us and that number is increasing daily.
“People can help us by buying cans of cat or dog food, whether it’s pie or bread or anything jelly – but no fish or sauce.
“The hedgehogs are mostly small juveniles. They arrive in the cold, wet stone. A lot of them have parasites and worms. Without us they would die and they are now endangered.”
Lizzie estimated that bringing the hedgehogs through to spring would cost around £ 7,500 in food alone, with medicine and bedding extra.
She said: “It’s crazy. I’ve been working here for ten years and the hedgehog rescues are at their peak. They wouldn’t stand a chance without us. They should weigh over 600g – they weigh 180-200g.
“Due to climate change, we have hotter and longer summers. Hedgehogs have another litter, so they are born too late and cannot survive.
“The decline of the hedgehog is due to habitat loss and the way we cultivate the land.
“We can all do things to help – cut a hole in your fence for a hedgehog highway, provide a shallow dish of water on the ground, leave a few logs for shelter or feed them.
“We give out around 40 boxes of dog / cat food a day so people can donate by dropping food out the door in our green donation box – tagging it to say that’s where it is. they want her to go – or we have an Amazon wish list. ”
Donations can be dropped off at Animals In Need, Pine Tree Farm, London Road, Little Irchester, Northamptonshire, NN8 2EH, daily between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Animals In Need is a voluntary organization dedicated to the rescue of sick, injured, trapped and distressed wild and domestic animals. They provide veterinary care if necessary, care for and rehabilitate animals until they can be released or rehoused.