Last year the GSPCA saw a record breaking 618 hedgehogs come through the doors and 2020 has broken that record number as we see poorly hedgehogs arriving in numbers.

With almost 2 months to go before the end of 2020 we have already helped an incredible 626 this year making it a record breaking number of hedgehogs

Despite lockdown the GSPCA has been incredibly busy and especially with 20 hedgehogs in since Monday the numbers are increasing every day with 129 currently in our care.

Due to the huge numbers and many extremely sick hedgehogs we are in desperate need of additional Intensive Care Units which cost £600 each, but really help save lives.

To donate to our appeal please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gspca-hedgehog-intensive-care-unit-appeal

You can buy these units directly which can be found by going to

Large ICUs - https://brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/tlc-50-advance-intensive-care-unit-brooder-recovery-unit/

Medium ICUs - https://brinsea.co.uk/bird-breeding-products/brooders/tlc-40-advance-intensive-care-unit-brooder-recovery-unit/

Small ICUs - https://brinsea.co.uk/small-animal-care/tlc-intensive-care-incubators/tlc-30-advance/

Autumn is a truly awful time for hedgehogs as many late babies struggle to survive and this year is no exception.

Over the last 10 years we have seen a steady increase in hedgehog numbers and here they are -

2020 - 1st January to 6th November 626 hedgehogs

2019 - 618 hedgehogs

2018 472 hedgehogs

2017 562 hedgehogs

2016 491 hedgehogs

2015 374 hedgehogs

2014 394 hedgehogs

2013 315 hedgehogs

2012 496 hedgehogs

2011 137 hedgehogs

Total over the last 10 years = 4485 hedgehogs

At present our intensive care units are continually full due to the numbers of sick and injured hedgehogs from those with mange to strimmer injuries and this week possibly due to bonfires and fireworks but thankfully none as yet.

Brinsea who are one of the leading manufactures in Intensive Care Units have a wonderful range which last for years working 24/7 saving lives.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said In the last 10 years we have had a phenomenal 4485 hedgehogs through our doors and 2020 has broken the record for numbers to come into our care in our 147 year history.

Already we have had 626 hedgehogs through the doors breaking all records and we have 2 months to go.

Since Monday alone we have had 20 hedgehogs arrive two of those are Albert and Sunny both who arrived late in the evening.

Sunny was found on the door step of one of Guernsey Colleges campuss covered in ticks and only recently left his mother so would have really struggled to survive with our current weather.

With over a dozen ticks removed he is now on the mend.

Albert was found in St Andrews absolutely covered in mange which is a parasitic mite that burrows into their skin.

Albert will need months of treatment but the good news was he is a great weight for the time of year.

Both of these hedgehogs and many others need specialist facilities which are all currently full and we are in desperate need of new Intensive Care Units.

The largest which we are in of most need are £600 each with delivery and any help would be hugely appreciated.

"We have many ways you can donate to appeal from our online pages, calling 257261, at the Shelter or by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, GY6 8UD."

It is so important to check areas before carrying out gardening tasks as well as lighting your bonfires as by doing so you could help save the life of a hedgehog or birds that may be at risk.

With the horrible weather we can all help hedgehogs from putting out fresh water and feed to providing hedgehog areas and homes.

You can feed them actual hedgehog food sold at many shops or meaty dog or cat food.

You can also help us help the hedgehogs here at the GSPCA such as sponsoring a hedgehog pen, making a donation or even an item from our Wish List.

Every day is a real struggle to raise the funds to care for the hundreds of animals in our care and for those that do become a regular sponsor it makes a huge difference to ensure that we can care for the 1000s of animals through our doors every year and the record breaking number of hedgehogs.

To become a sponsor and Angel Pen Pal supporter you can pop in or call us on 257261 for a leaflet or download a leaflet with all the details by going to http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf .

With huge challenges on our resources and a drop in income from boarding and donations you can donate to our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by going to https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal .

To see our Wish List items and plans please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .

If you find a sick or injured hedgehog we are here 24/7 on site and have a manned ambulance and if you need to know what to do please call us on 01481 257261 or check out the advice page https://www.gspca.org.gg/animal/hedgehog-advice .

Here are some hedgehog facts and tips to help them

Any Hedgehogs seen out in daylight will likely need URGENT help, please call us for advice

Hedgehogs do NOT lie out sunbathing

Any cut hedgehog needs urgent help

Any Hedgehog with flies on it or maggots crawling on it needs VERY Urgent help

Any Hedgehog limping or walking strangely needs help

Anything hedgehog that looks very thin or wobbly or has bald patches or missing spines

Garden ponds and swimming pools - Make sure there is always an easy route for Hedgehogs to climb out of the water. Steps built out of house bricks are often used. Ideally, swimming pools should have shallow steps and a tight-fitting insulating cover should be used overnight.

Strimmers and hedge trimmers - These should be used sparingly under hedges and other areas of undergrowth. Hedgehogs and other animals are likely to be resting there during the day. The GSPCA see animals injured by these every month and if this does happen please contact us immediately or pop them to the Shelter as quickly as possible.

Drains - Drains and similar open holes frequently trap unwary Hedgehogs and they can starve if they are not rescued. Keep all drain covers in good condition and cover any open holes.

Litter - Litter is a real hazard and Hedgehogs frequently get their heads stuck in tins, plastic binders from drinks cans or discarded yoghurt pots. Please make sure you dispose of your rubbish safely. Also please ensure that you store any items for recycling in a safe place away from inquisitive Hedgehogs.

Nets - Nets particularly those used for tennis, football or cricket, must be furled well above the ground when not in use. Hedgehogs often get entangled in these nets and die of starvation. Fruit nets are a similar source of danger but can be kept taut to stop animals getting entangled.

Pets Dogs are often quite inquisitive when they see a Hedgehog in the garden. It is important that your dog doesnt try to play or pick up a Hedgehog as it can both injure the hedgehog and your pet.

Slug pellets - Slug pellets can poison Hedgehogs and should only be used as a last resort. Try using other methods such as beer traps or sprinkling fine sand or ground up shells around the plants you need to protect; rings made of cut down plastic drinks bottles can offer protection to individual plants and aluminium, sulphate-based products can be used over wider areas. If all else fails and you have to use pellets, place them under a slate which is inaccessible to Hedgehogs.

Rodenticides There is new evidence that has shown that Hedgehogs are at risk from poisons put down for rats and mice. Although the bait boxes used should not allow Hedgehogs to get to the bait, slugs and snails are attracted to the bait and will then store the poison in their bodies, so when the Hedgehog eats the slug, they get the poison. So always seriously consider whether you need to use these chemicals and if so, please be very careful.

Bonfires - If you have to light a bonfire, always make sure there are no animals sheltering in the pile.

They have relatively long legs - about 10cms (4") and these enable them to run as fast as we can walk.

Their front feet are shorter and broader than their back ones.

The claws on their powerful front feet are particularly useful for digging.

Each night (when not hibernating) Hedgehogs will probably make a slow and apparently haphazard search for food and will travel between 2-3kms (1-2 miles).

They have small bright eyes but cannot see very well. At night they will use their excellent sense of smell and hearing to guide them.

Their weight will be largely determined by the food they get, but most one-year olds will weigh between 450-680gms (1-1½1bs).

Self-anointing is an activity only Hedgehogs do. It seems to be connected with strange smells or tastes that cause them to produce large quantities of frothy saliva. They then spread the foam over their spines by flicking it with their tongue.

If a young Hedgehog survives its early life in the nest and then its first hibernation, it can expect to live for 4 or 5 years longer. By this time it will be getting old but might live to the age of ten.

Generally they lead solitary lives and tend to go out of their way to avoid other Hedgehogs, except during the mating season.

Like most mammals the Hedgehog has a characteristic smell and this will usually warn other hedgehogs to keep out of the way.

In the mating season the male may be attracted by the different smell of the female and commence a rather prolonged and noisy courtship with her.

Hedgehogs do not pair bond - the female raises her young unaided by the male.

At the GSPCA we see more sick and injured Hedgehogs than any other species of wild animal.

The GSPCA when we release Hedgehogs ensure they are painted purple on their spines and we also microchip them.

Baby Hedgehogs are called Hoglets.

An adult hedgehog have between 5000 and 7000 spines

2019 the GSPCA had a record breaking year with 18 hedgehogs through the doors

Hedgehogs were likely brought to Guernsey sometime in the 18th century

Hedgehogs really need the winter temperature to be below 5C to hibernate which means they do struggle to do this in guernsey resulting in hedgehogs arriving at the GSPCA almost daily all year round