The German Animal Welfare Federation appeals to all animal lovers to keep a close eye on hedgehogs that are active during the day. Due to the decline in insects, which has been caused in particular by habitat changes, pesticides and climate change, many hedgehogs can hardly find food suitable for their species. Many of these animals fall ill or are underweight. Without the support of animal lovers, many hedgehogs have little chance of surviving the winter.
“In addition to road traffic and loss of habitat, the decline in insects, for example due to the increased use of pesticides and the consequences of climate change, is having a dramatic impact on the hedgehog population. Younger animals often suffer from underweight and parasite infestation. They often fail to build up sufficient fat reserves for the winter. If they are not fed and/or given veterinary treatment, they do not survive the winter months,” says James Brückner, Head of the Wildlife Department at the German Animal Welfare Federation.
UNDERWEIGHT AND SICK YOUNG ANIMALS
The number of hedgehogs in need of care is increasing at wildlife rescue centers. The Weidefeld Animal Welfare Center of the German Animal Welfare Federation is also currently receiving an increasing number of inquiries from concerned animal lovers asking to take in conspicuous hedgehogs. Often the animals found weigh significantly less than the recommended 500 grams, which a young hedgehog should reach by the beginning of November in order to have enough reserves for hibernation - adult hedgehogs should then weigh 1000 grams. In addition, there are hedgehogs with massive parasite infestations that initially require veterinary treatment. “It is worrying that more and more sick hedgehogs are being handed in that not only need to be nursed but also treated in the long term,” says Patrick Boncourt from the Weidefeld Animal Welfare Center.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND PESTICIDES PUT A STRAIN ON THE HEDGEHOG POPULATION
The reasons for the poor condition of many hedgehogs lie in the decline in insect populations, which is being accelerated by the use of chemicals in agriculture and the increasingly mild winters. Instead of insects, such as ground beetles and butterfly larvae, they are increasingly eating snails and worms, which carry pathogens against which the hedgehog's immune system is not sufficiently armed. This leads to the spread of various diseases among the animals. Tidy gardens in which hedgehogs find neither shelter nor food, as well as the use of robotic mowers, pose an additional threat to the spiny creatures. Last but not least, hundreds of thousands are run over every year.
HELP FOR WEAK AND SICK HEDGEHOGS
The German Animal Welfare Federation advises finders to take hedgehogs with severe parasite infestation or symptoms such as coughing to a vet. Animal lovers should pay particular attention if they see the normally nocturnal animals during the day. In these cases, it is worth taking a look at the scales: if a young hedgehog only weighs just under 500 grams and is apparently healthy, it can be helped by feeding it wet cat food and water. If in doubt, further action should be discussed with a qualified rescue center or animal shelter.
