Instructions for picking up and transporting a hedgehog safely to us:

1. Approach the hog quietly and pick it up gently using gardening gloves, rubber gloves or a towel.
2. You will need a high-sided box (cardboard or plastic is fine).  If you have a cat carrier this is fine too.
3. Line the box with several layers of newspaper and tear up some of the newspaper so they can hide under it. If you don’t have newspaper, an old towel or tea-towel will be good.
4. Please do not use straw, hay, leaves or grass to line the box they can stick to wounds and spines.
5. The box needs to be wide enough to allow for space for the hedgehog to move around a little. Cover the box with a towel or lid – they hate feeling exposed – but make sure there is adequate ventilation.
6. Place the hog in a quiet place, somewhere away from flies.
7. They are great escape artists, so if you have to wait a while before transporting it to us, please make sure you keep it somewhere safe. Putting the box in the bath is a good place!
8. You may be able to provide some warmth for the hog but please do not do this if the hog has a wound and is bleeding or if there is any flystrike. If appropriate, place a plastic bottle containing warm but not hot water in one corner of the box.
9. Cover the bottle with a towel or cloth (not a fluffy fabric and not one with loose fibres) but make sure the hog can move away from it if necessary.
10. Please do not give any food unless the rescue has given specific instructions. Most hogs will be dehydrated and by giving them food you can actually make this worse as it can redirect the circulation away from vital organs. If you are told to feed the hog by a rescue, please offer only a small amount. Wet or dry meat-based cat or dog food is fine.
11. Please do put a shallow dish of water in the box for them.
12. Please remove the water before transporting.