Fears hedgehogs could die in heat if not helped
PA MediaThe current generation of children could be the last to see living hedgehogs in Jersey, a rescue charity has warned.
The number of hedgehogs orphaned and left dehydrated has risen by 30% in the hot weather, according to recent figures from the RSPCA.
It was an issue being faced across the south-west of England and Channel Islands this summer, with a number of charities across the areas stressing the animals had been unable to find food and water in the heat.
Problems included ground being so hard they could not dig for insects, with many adults and babies being found severely underweight.
Gill Morgan, from the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group, stressed it was the third hot, dry summer in a row in the Channel Island, with the ground so dry the animals had been unable to dig.
Speaking to BBC Radio Jersey, she said: "A hedgehog will breed for approximately five years.
"If we've lost three years of hedgehog babies, that means this generation of children might be the last to see a live hedgehog in Jersey."
Morgan explained hedgehogs were fed by their mothers for the first four weeks after being born.
Beyond that, their mothers have "absolutely no reserves" in the heat, with rescuers finding both them and their babies severely underweight.
She added: "They're coming in basically to die. It's just been dire. We have to act before it's too late."
PA MediaIn Cornwall, hedgehog charity Prickles and Paws said it was currently looking after 129 of the animals on its site.
It had also been the busiest year yet for Tracy Sargent, who runs Porthleven Harbour Hedgies Rescue.
"They're coming in so severely dehydrated and emaciated," she told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"The ground is so rock hard they can't dig for insects, so there's been nothing for them unless people have supported them in their gardens."
'Many casualties'
In Devon, Alan Pook, from Prickles in a Pickle, said the issue spread across the food chain, with insects also "struggling badly", which had been "impacting hedgehogs".
Speaking to Caroline Densley on BBC Radio Devon, he said: "The rural hedgehog is the one that is really suffering.
"There is no water out in the wild. It would just be good if everybody could put as much water down as they could."
In Guernsey, GSPCA manager Steve Byrne, also said it has been "a really hard year" for the animals.
"We've seen many, many casualties of dehydrated hedgehogs, very poorly hedgehogs, some that sadly haven't made it because of the lack of food and water out there."
Drought monitors last week said 71.3% of England was in drought, after the nation recorded its driest July since records began in 1836.
Meanwhile, both Jersey and Guernsey recorded their hottest July since their records began.
How to help
Anyone wanting to help the hedgehogs in their area should put out shallow bowls of water in their gardens, along with bowls of small cat or dog dry pet food, Jersey's Gill Morgan said.
"You need to fill them morning and evening," she said of the water bowls.
"For supplementary food, cat biscuits are good, and small dog biscuits; but definitely not mealworm, sunflower seeds or peanuts.
"And definitely no milk either [as hogs are lactose intolerant]."
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