I wrote this short article for Issue 47 of the (Dutch) Dierenambulance Nederrijn (Animal Ambulance) magazine. Here’s my original (in English!) with photos reproduced with permission from De Dierenspeciaalzaak in Oosterbeek.
Hedgehog with a Head Wound Crawls to a Petshop
It seems hedgehogs have more head-sense than we think and know where to get help!
In October we received a call from De Dierenspeciaalzaak in Oosterbeek to rescue a hedgehog. He was found by the front door of the shop, rolled up in a small ball which is a sign of anxiety for hedgehogs.
Store owner Bianca was able to pick him up, and she saw immediately that he had several head wounds. She placed him carefully onto a towel in a cardboard box, and gave him some water as well as hedgehog food which she had handy. She is, after all, a pet shop owner!
When we arrived to pick him up, our spiky friend was shuffling around the box and clearly very happy with his food. These were good signs because uncurling meant he felt safe, and feeding himself meant we could bring him to the Avolare Wildlife Rescue Centre instead of the rescue centre in Nijkerkerveen which is where we bring baby hedgehogs. As Avolare is closer, this hedgehog will get his help more quickly!
It’s not the first time that Bianca, her daughter Desney and her mother, Bep have encountered hedgehogs in need of help at their family-owned pet shop. Some time ago they saw a mother hedgehog walking in the garden. She visited increasingly frequently, and came earlier on each successive day. Knowing that seeing hedgehogs active in the daytime is often an indication of a hedgehog in need of help, they consulted the animal ambulance who checked whether she was pregnant or had recently given birth.
This was not the case, so she was brought to Avolare who found she had a lungworm infection and needed treatment. Thankfully the hedgehog recovered and was returned home where she continues to roam the garden happy, safely and healthy.
Similarly, they hope to hear good news soon from Avolare about their hedgehog with head wounds!
