Tiny hedgehog in the snow - help!!

[Suncottage]

He was in the middle of my lawn and is about a third of a size of a rugby ball - he is now in a plastic crate in my dining room and seems to have 'come round'.

I have offered cat food and had a look at the web links for hedgehog sanctuaries. But don't want to call them or a vet at this time of night. I think a vet would take a very dim view about being called out!

Should I just put him back outside under the hedge so he can find his way home or keep him overnight.

I don't want to traumatise the poor thing by keeping him in or killing him by turning him out.

DP and I are keen gardeners and love having the hedehogs round in the spring/summer/autumn.

Shouldn't he be hibernating now - he is the last of the four hedgehogs we had in our garden this year.

Advise please

[DanceInTheDark]

is there advice on the St Tiggywinkles site? (is that the right name?)

[DanceInTheDark]

St T's was it injured?

[Suncottage]

I have posted this thread on chat as well - don't want to come across as a mad hedgehog woman - but I love the hedgehogs in my garden

Please can you give any advice on chat - so I can get any info there.

I think he/she is too small to survive the winter

[fluffybitingguineapigs]

Don't put the hedgehog outside! Honestly it should be hibernating now and it will not be able to survive as there is no food source and it is far too cold.

If it is a small hedgehog then it is probably a late summer / Autumn baby (hedgehogs can breed up to the Autumn in mild weather) and so it hasn't had time to build up enough fat reserves for the winter.

It needs to be taken to an animal sanctuary / hedgehog rescue centre where it can mix with other hedgehogs inside and survive the winter.

For now keep it inside in the warm and carry on feeding dog and cat food with water (no milk or bread as it is not good for them)

hth - grew up rescuing hedgehogs!

[neversaydie]

Don't put him out in the snow - if he is under sized it will kill him.

A friend of mine found a young hedgehog in a similar situation, and was told that under a certain weight (which this one was) a hedgehog will not survive hibernation. So they kept him in a cage in the warm and fed him up over the winter, and let him go in the spring.

You should probably talk to your vet about it - you will certainly need to give it a flea treatment or 6 - but please don't put the poor beast out until you have checked with someone.

[Suncottage]

Thanks everyone - Main thread is on Chat - I needed fast advice.

DP is naming it and sorting out wood to build a hutch for William/Kate

I think it is too poorly to live though

[KimiaNother]

What did you finally name him?

[Suncottage]

kimia
thread here

[KimiaNother]

Thank you!