Hedgehog hospital in plea for help ahead of busiest time of year for patients
“Every donation helps with food, medicines, veterinary care, heating, bedding, and rehabilitation”
Volunteers at Penshaw Hedgehog Rescue Hospital are appealing to the public to be aware of the dangers garden strimmers, lawnmowers and other human activity can pose to the animals, particularly at this time of the year when hedgehogs are at their most active.
One of the patients recently admitted to the hospital under such circumstances is Albert.
Hospital founder Claire Foster, 40, said: “Albert was brought in with a head injury which had been caused by a garden strimmer, but fortunately he is doing well and we should soon be able to release him back into the wild.
“We’ve also currently got Claude who was injured whilst fencing was being erected at a nearby park. Our third patient is Dodger, who was brought to us with an injury to his eye and to his toe. They’ve all had their wounds treated as well as antibiotics to prevent or treat any infection.
“Most of the dangers to hedgehogs comes from human activity with the loss of wildlife habitat and the dangers of machinery and traffic.”
With the mating season now in full swing, Claire is expecting an influx of both adult and baby hedgehogs.
She said: “Last year (2025) at one point we had 36 patients and we will probably end up with similar numbers in the coming weeks. At this time of year people may be putting up sheds and we often get calls from people who discover hedgehogs have built their nests in them.
“When people leave out rubbish, it creates an environment where hedgehogs will nest in the materials left out and we then get called out after the animals are found in bins.
“With it being mating season, the males will often fight which can also lead to injuries.”
The hospital has applied for charity status, but currently relies on donations from the local community as well as Claire having to use some of her own money.
She said: “We’ve capacity for up to 40 hedgehogs, but everything is getting more expensive. Each animal which needs to see a vet is a £25 consultation charge, then you’ve the cost of medicines, wound dressing, incubators for any babies, microscopes to check for parasites, and IV fluids.
“Coming into the busiest time of the year, any donation would make such a difference. Every donation helps with food, medicines, veterinary care, heating, bedding, and rehabilitation.”
Claire is also appealing to people to be aware of any hedgehogs which may be in their garden and to take measures to help ensure they remain healthy.
She said: “It’s important to check long grass and hedges before strimming and mowing, and if you let your dog out into the garden it’s important to supervise them as we also get a lot of animals that have been injured by dogs.
“Leaving out a dish of water at night will also help hedgehogs as well as making small gaps in fencing to provide a wildlife corridor.
“If people can also take care on the roads, particularly at dusk, and slow down for any wildlife crossing the road.”
The aim of the hospital is to rehabilitate the hedgehogs so they can return to the wild. You can find out more about POGs Rescue Hospital on their Facebook page. You can also make a donation via the hospital’s paypal link.