Hedgehog

What do I do if I see a hedgehog and how do I know if it needs help?

Hedgehogs are nocturnal and would very rarely venture out during the day unless it was in trouble somehow.

There are exceptions to this rule.

* Is the hedgehog obviously going somewhere? What we mean by this is that if you spot a hedgehog running along the fence line daytime it might just have been disturbed and should not be picked up.

* Is the hedgehog carrying grass, leaves or similar it is probably just out gathering nesting material and should be left alone.

* With daytime, we do NOT mean dusk or dawn. If your garden is shaded or the weather is overcast please take this into account.

* If the hedgehog is out in full sunlight, is found sunbathing or sleeping in the open, staggering, dragging its legs, screaming, or collapsed they should ALWAYS be brought to the nearest rescue.

* If you find a hedgehog trapped somehow, even if you manage to get it untrapped, it should ALWAYS be brought to a rescue. There might be internal damage that needs to be seen by a professional.

* If there is an obvious injury to the hedgehog it should ALWAYS be brought to a rescue.

Step one is to put the hedgehog in something secure. Remember that hedgehogs are great climbers so something with a lid is best. Unless you are taking it directly to a rescue place try to make sure it has enough room to move around. We have had adult hedgehogs brought to us in very small shoeboxes, something that is not ideal. Make sure that the box is covered so flies can’t get to it. Make sure there are air holes.

Step two is to give it a heat source of some sort. If you don’t have a hot water bottle, a jam jar or a rinks bottle half-filled with hot water and wrapped in a towel will do just fine. Just make sure that it is watertight! Make sure that the hedgehog can move away from the heat source if he/she gets too hot. IF THE HEDGEHOG HAS FLY EGGS ON IT PLEASE DO NOT GIVE IT A SOURCE OF HEAT. Here are two examples of flystrike so you know what to look for.

Step three is to contact your nearest rescue. Please don’t wait before doing this and don’t assume that you can take care of it yourself. As much as there might not be visible injuries to the hedgehog there are so many things that could be wrong and by waiting you might risk the animal's life.

If you want to you can give it some cat or dog food on a plate and some water in a non-tip water bowl.

NEVER feed hedgehogs milk or bread.

In late autumn and winter, any hedgehog smaller than a grapefruit should be brought to a rescue as they will too small to hibernate. If you are not sure about the size, weigh it. Less than 500 grams and it should be brought to a rescue. When in doubt, call and ask!

Pigeon

What do I do if I find a pigeon or a dove and how do I know if it needs help?

Some people would argue that pigeons are just vermin but this could not be further away from the truth if you ask us. These beautiful birds can live up to 20 years and if you look closely their feathers shimmer in all the colors of the rainbow. Sadly most of them will only live a few years in the wild but just like any other animals or birds, we think that they are worth saving. Pigeons and doves are different from most other birds as they breed all year round. Therefore it is not unlikely that you find a little baby even early in the year.
Obviously not every pigeon or dove you see needs our intervention so how do you know when to interfere?
If the bird has an obvious injury ALWAYS secure the bird and contact your closest rescue center.
If the baby is on the ground and it is in danger (for example if it is on the road or your cat/dog is showing it too much attention) secure it and contact your closest rescue center.

A hatchling ( between 0 – 4 weeks old) will not survive on the ground. It will have a small amount of down and will not be able to get away from any predators. It will also suffer from the cold.
Even after they fledge they can look very vulnerable but please be careful so that you don’t interfere where it is not needed. If you see a baby that you think is in trouble start by staying back and observe. Are the parents around (Make sure that you don’t stand too close as they will stay away)?
Is the baby bird sitting in a tree? If the answer is yes on either of these two questions please leave it as it should be alright.
If the baby is on the ground and the parents are nowhere to be seen then catch it. Once it is caught secure it in a box big enough for it to move but make sure that it is covered. Place it somewhere quiet and warm and call a rescue center.

Do not EVER try to force it to drink water, if anything just offer it some water in a shallow bowl.
We cannot stress this enough as we have had babies brought to us that died after being force-fed water through a syringe, had their head put under a running tap (no joke...), or head pushed into a bowl of water.

Deer

Deer are protective of their young (like most parents would be).
However, unlike most parents, they will find a quiet and dark place they consider safe to then leave their baby for long periods of time. This will allow the baby to get much-needed rest and time to grow big and strong.

If you see a baby deer please DO NOT disturb it and as much as we might feel like a baby on their own must be in danger it most probably is not.

Step one is to move away. If you spook it you might put it in danger. Do not touch it. If you believe it might have been abandoned watch it from a long distance. If it looks dirty or injured, laying out flat, or is laying out in the open contact a rescue center directly. Unless the rescue center tells you differently stay back and do NOT approach, try to ensure nothing hurts it or that it stumbles away.

If you have to pick the deer up please remember that you are terrifying to the little creature. Stroking or cuddling it will just scare it more.
Instead, cover its face (make sure that it can breathe) and get it somewhere safe and quiet.
ONLY DO THIS IF YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO OR IF IT POSES A DANGER (for example, if it is in the middle of the road).

As always please remember that wildlife rescue is best left to people with experience so always contact a local rescue for help.

Muntjac breeds roughly every 7 months so you might come across a fawn any time of the year, unlike our native deer who give birth between May and July.

SAME RESCUE RULES APPLY TO ANY DEER.

If you found an injured deer of any age - STAY BACK, CALL FOR HELP, ONLY APPROACH IF THERE IS A DANGER TO LIFE.

A flower for every month

Why not plant a "Bee restaurant" with one flowering plant for every month of the year!
If you don't have a border available for something like this, why not get 12 biggish plant pots?
Here are some ideas. The plants suitable for pots are marked with a P before the name, (P) means that you can put certain varieties in a pot but some will do better than others. Any perennials will do better in bigger pots as their roots will take up more space than an annual:

January
P Winter honeysuckle – Need to be fed and watered to survive in a pot. This is a climber that can reach up to 2.5 meters in height so provide it with a climbing frame. Will flower till spring. As a bonus, it produces berries in the autumn.

P Wild deadnettle -  The dead in the name refers to its lack of sting. Will flower from the end of January all the way till November.

(P) Mahonia – This evergreen shrub also produces berries

February
P Helleborus – This little beauty often is evergreen and loves a shady, not too windy spot in your garden.

P Crocus – Someone described this as a perfect plant for the “keen but clueless” as it is a VERY easy little bulb to grow.

P Snowdrops – Beautiful little perennial with small white flower.

March
P Ajuga genevensis – Flowers till mid-May. This plant is actually best to plant in pots as it spreads fast.

P Pulmonaria – Can sometimes start flowering as early as February and will keep going to April.

P Primula – Very hardy little beauty.

April
P Chives - Will flower in April/May. Herbaceous perennial plant.

P Cornflower – Will flower late April all the way to late summer.

P Lotus cornicalatus – Flowers till mid September

May
Achillea – Flowers till August

Cow parsley – Will flower till July

Calendula – Will flower till mid-summer.

June
P Borage - Will flower till September. In mild weather, it will continue to flower most of the year. Self-seeding annual.

(P) Lavender - Will flower from late spring.

P Snapdragons – Will flower till September

July
P Hyssop - Will flower sometimes as early as June all the way through to early autumn.

(P) Buddleja – Amazing shrub with beautiful flowers and a scent to die for. Requires a very big pot.

P Blue sea holly – Will flower till September

August
P Anemone – Will flower till late October

P Cosmos - If winter is very harsh, wrap the pot in something to protect the roots from the worst frost.

(P) Hollyhock – The dwarf veraities will survive in a pot. The larger ones will struggle if the pot is not big enough. Also, remember that the big varieties will grow up to 6ft tall.

September
P Ivy – Ivy is one of my all-time favorite plants. It comes in all shades of green and is a fantastic plant for wildlife, both for nectar and nesting depending on size. It does take a few year before the Ivy produces flowers.

P Salvia – As with all herbs having them in your garden will provide both you and pollinators with food 😀

P Ice plant – Will do best in full sun and does not like to stay damp for long periods.

October
(P) Abelia – This is another evergreen plant that will produce both flowers and berries. As most shrubs, it will do best if you give it some space so a very small post is not recommended.

P Rudbeckia – Prefers to have some room so don’t overcrowed and this plant will do well in a pot. Make sure it is fast draining.

Crocus speciosus – This will keep flowering sometime as early as September all the way to November.

November
P Wallflower – Will flower throughout the year and is ever so easy to care for.

P Sarcococca hookeriana – Will flower all the way to March and then produce berries. Highly fragrant flowers.

(P) Viburnum tintus – You will need to plant two of these to get it to produce berries but if you do remember that the berries are bad for humans. Birds however love them! Will need a big pot.

December
P Winter aconite – Will do well in a pot.

P Common Gorse – Will provide nectar all through the year. As most shrubs it will need a bigger pot.

(P) Winter flowering cherry – Since this is a tree it will need a substantial pot to be able to survive.

Balance of nature

Why is a hedgehog worth saving?
Why is what we do as rescuers important?
Is it better to let nature do its thing instead of interfering?

These are all questions we have been asked and it is so easy to get lost in the anger of the question instead of actually providing an answer. For me and most of us on this page, it might be obvious that a hedgehog has the same right to not suffer like the rest of us but too often I hear “it’s just one hedgehog”.
Just one.
But one by one they disappear.
And nature very rarely makes mistakes: Hedgehogs are here because they are needed.

Nature is based on balance and it is a beautiful thing when it works.
Everything fits and has a purpose. One species needs another for its survival and when one piece disappears the balance is broken and often the result is devastating.

So my answers are:
Yes, of course, a hedgehog is worth saving, even if it’s just one because it all adds up because when it comes to the balance of nature it is beautiful but fragile.
Yes, what we and other rescuers do is important because without us: who would do it? In a world where everything seems to be based on a monetary value a tiny hedgehog might not be worth saving but for the sake of our future they are all priceless.
And no, it is not better to let nature do its thing. Not when you can make it better.
For me, if you see suffering you have the duty to try to do something about it. And they are all worth saving.

Sanctuary is….

Hallswood Animal Sanctuary was founded in 1996
by Keith Hall and his first wife Ann.
This was written by a supporter many years ago
but it still sums it up, don’t you think?

Sanctuary        is a bolt hole
a haven
a place of safety

Sanctuary        is freedom from persecution
for being born an animal
in a humans world.

Sanctuary        is peace and quiet
food and water
warmth and a place to sleep

Sanctuary        is being out of the race
man agains beast.

Sanctuary        is an area to live out
my natural days
a place to lick my cuts and wounds.

Sanctuary        is a time to remember the past
and the hurt inflicted by man.

Sanctuary        is a place to heal
to learn to trust
to know that some humans do
care for us.

Sanctuary        is being protected
being cared for.
But most of all

Sanctuary        is being loved by
Ann and Keith.

It’s the cats that choose

This story is about a girl cat who was abandoned by her first owner when they moved away. Just 2 years old she was very lucky to be adopted by an older couple and she ended up spending the next 9 years with them.
Sadly due to ill health, they were unable to continue to look after her.
After spending a bit of time with one of our fosterers we found her a forever home.

To say that it was love at first sight is an understatement – As soon as the lady walked in the cat walked over to her and didn’t leave her side. This was clearly who she wanted as her forever human!
Many rescues have very strict rules as to who, where and how they will adopt and this lady had been turned down by many others due to her address.
After chatting with her, getting the full picture, we realised that she would be more than suitable to adopt this cat.

We find that often you need to find out more and hear the full circumstances of a potential adopter before you make a decision. Someone might sound perfect on paper but turn out to be wrong for the cat in question – another time it is the total opposite.

They say that cats choose their owners and it is certainly true for the cats in our care.

From grrrr to purrrrr

A beautiful young cat was surrendered to us after biting both the owner and her child.
We took her to a fosterer who started to work on taming this lovely girl. It turned out that she was really sweet but a strongminded girl and that the constant attention from a young child very likely was the source of the problem. Quickly she went from a growling cat to a relaxed girl loving a bit of fuss, as long as it was on her terms.

After advertising that we had a young cat up for adoption we received a message from an older lady who recently lost her cat. We did a home-check over video and she passed with flying colours! After a successful meeting between the lady and the cat adoption was agreed.

This is how we rehome. We match the animal with the right human. This is why we say we don’t rehome based on colour or looks, but rather personality and suitability. We believe that it is much more important that you get an animal that suits you and your reality. Limiting yourself to “a ginger fluffy kitten” might just mean that you are missing out on that perfect match.

This is the update we received when we asked how things are going.
“Just beautifully! She is so funny – she’s very fussy and playful and pretty much ruling the roost – she strongly disagreed with staying in one room and rumour has it that she has very much taken to an afternoon read in bed with the new owner”

This match has not only transformed the life of this supposed aggressive cat but also this lovely lady.
It turned out that this cat was not aggressive at all, she just didn’t suit a busy household with children – no fault of neither the cat or the previous owner.

Build a hedgehog bunker!

You will need:

21 old bricks

3’x2’ paving slab

  1. Choose a sheltered and secluded spot where the ground is not likely to get too wet.
  2. Clear the area to the size of the slab and make it even.
  3. Lay the bricks out as shown in the first photograph, they do not need to be set with mortar.
  4. Lay the second layer of bricks staggering the joints. One of the bricks will need to be cut into half.
  5. Carefully lower the slab onto the bricks. You may get a more snug fit if you put some sand on top of the bricks but this is not essential.
  6. Add garden materials on and around the bunker. Soil could be placed on the top, or leaves, as long as the entranceway is clear. Old logs could be placed around it, doubling up as a home for insects and a ready snack stop for your hedgehog!
  7. If you only have a 2’x2’ slab, keep the entrance outside the house, but could you cover it with some old tiles or slates?

What a lovely idea for children to be able to construct for themselves, with help where needed. Please send us your photographs to see your constructions!

Cookie – A feral gone soft :)

Meet Cookie!
Like many of the cats at the sanctuary, he is not wearing a collar. This is an indication that he is not necessarily 100% cuddly 🙂
Cookie came to Hallswood a few years back as a feral and brought two friends with him: Tommy and Baby. Feral cats makes up a large part of our resident cats and for obvious reasons, these are not re-homable. Instead, they will be neutered and live with us for the rest of their life.
Today Cookie has decided that he actually don't mind a little bit of fuss but don't try to pick him up 🙂