did i do right thing with baby hedgehog?

loulou123

I just saw a family of hedgehogs walk past my window, something scared them and the adult and one baby ran under my neighbours gate, leaving one baby under my recycling bin. The mummy one was calling from neighbours garden but the baby stayed put. There is a lot of cats around here so I went and carefully picked up the baby (with gloves on, popped him in a box and went to ask neighbour if I could pop it in her garden.

I couldn't find the others tho and the mummy stopped calling (presumably sensing me there) so I tucked the baby into a safe ish spot and left him there. Thinking he will call his mum and they will be reunited.

Now I'm worried I did the wrong thing and they won't get reunited....should I go and get him back and call someone?

Elle7

No, she should come back. It might take her a few hours, but she should get him again when she thinks its safe to do so. If you rescue him, his chances of survival will be much lower - he'll require a lot of care and attention, including through the night, and mummy hedgehog will find it much easier!

Can you see him from where you are? I'd keep an eye on him, but don't get too close, because she won't come back if she thinks you are there. If she doesn't come back in a few hours and he seems to be getting very distressed, you might have to rescue him, but hopefully she'll come back.

I'd love to see a family of hedgehogs! I only ever see the orphans given in to the wildlife sanctuary.

Hope this helps,
E x

Dave101t

typical bl00dy mothers, carting their babies around in a rough neighborhood.
i hope they are ok but the hedgehogs should really keep to safer areas.

loulou123

Thank you elle, I have just seen the mummy one again, now without either of her babies, but she appeared to be looking for food and I can't hear her or the babies calling, so am hoping they are reunited. I could see the baby from where I am, but its no longer there, so hoping its tucked away safely now.

Feel bad I couldn't do more, but as the mummy was around I felt the best thing to do was to try and let them reunite.

3v3

loulou123 wrote: »

I just saw a family of hedgehogs walk past my window, something scared them and the adult and one baby ran under my neighbours gate, leaving one baby under my recycling bin. The mummy one was calling from neighbours garden but the baby stayed put. There is a lot of cats around here so I went and carefully picked up the baby (with gloves on, popped him in a box and went to ask neighbour if I could pop it in her garden.

I couldn't find the others tho and the mummy stopped calling (presumably sensing me there) so I tucked the baby into a safe ish spot and left him there. Thinking he will call his mum and they will be reunited.

Now I'm worried I did the wrong thing and they won't get reunited....should I go and get him back and call someone?

Personally, despite your best intentions, I think the baby would have been safer left under the recycling bin. If cats were your concern, relocating it to a spot you believe was "safe-ish" probably isn't a spot that a hedgehog would perceive as "safe"; could possibly have made it more exposed to cats.

Hopefully, your observations this morning mean that its now somewhere safe.

Fire_Fox

Leave wild creatures alone unless they are under attack, the mother will know her territory very well and can retrace her steps to find her young. If you move them they can lose their sense of direction.

loulou123

My description of under the recycling bin, wasn't very clear, it was really next to the bin, squashed up against it, so in full view of any passing cat dog etc (if it had been right underneath I would have left it, but the gap was too small for it too fit into.)
And as the mother was calling but getting further away, I just put him in a safer place, nearer to her.

Thank you for all your comments tho.

Elle7

Only just checked on this again - I'm glad it seems that she got him back, I think you'd definately have heard him squealing for food by now if he was still on his own!

Let's hope they get to where they are going safely!

E x