Found an Injured Hedgehog in the UK? Here's What to Do
Hedgehog populations in the UK have declined significantly in recent decades, making every rescued hedgehog important. Knowing what to do when you find an injured or sick hedgehog — and who to call — can make the difference between life and death for these protected animals.
Key takeaways
- Hedgehogs found active in daylight are almost always unwell — pick them up safely using gloves or a towel and contact a hedgehog rescue immediately.
- Never feed bread and milk to a hedgehog — both cause digestive distress. Use wet cat food (meat-based) or mealworms as temporary food if needed.
- Contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (01584 890801) or your nearest wildlife rescue for expert advice and collection.
When Should You Pick Up a Hedgehog?
Most hedgehogs found during daylight hours are in trouble. Healthy hedgehogs are nocturnal and rarely seen in the daytime. If a hedgehog is active during the day, is staggering, collapsed, covered in flies or fly eggs (which appear as small white clusters), is very small and alone, or is injured, it needs help.
Hedgehogs found motionless, cold, very small (under 300g as autumn approaches), or with obvious injuries such as wounds, broken spines, or entanglement in netting should be picked up immediately. Similarly, a hedgehog seen out in daylight and walking in circles or making a loud noise is unwell.
By contrast, a hedgehog moving normally at night or found curled up in a safe, undisturbed location (such as under a hedge) during the day may simply be resting or nesting. Observe from a distance before intervening. Pregnant hedgehogs and mothers with young should not be disturbed if there is no immediate danger.
How to Safely Handle an Injured Hedgehog
Hedgehogs carry fleas and ticks and should be handled with thick gardening gloves or using a folded towel to protect your hands from their spines and any parasites. Despite popular belief, hedgehog fleas are host-specific — they rarely transfer to humans or pets — but tick and bacterial risks mean gloves are still advisable.
Gently place the hedgehog in a high-sided cardboard box or plastic container lined with a folded towel or newspaper. Hedgehogs can climb and will escape from low-sided containers. Place a covered hot water bottle or a small bottle filled with warm water (wrapped in a cloth) in the box to provide warmth — hypothermia is common in sick and injured hedgehogs.
Do not offer bread and milk, which is commonly (but incorrectly) believed to be appropriate hedgehog food. Both cause digestive upset. If you need to offer food while waiting for collection or transport, use a small amount of wet cat food (meat-based, not fish) or mealworms. Provide water in a shallow dish.
Who to Contact for Help
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) maintains a list of hedgehog rescue centres across the UK and can be reached on 01584 890801. The BHPS website also has a rescue centre finder. The RSPCA in England and Wales (0300 1234 999) can attend for injured wildlife in some circumstances, though they prioritise domestic animals — local hedgehog rescues are often faster and more specialised.
Local wildlife rescue centres, many of which are run by volunteers, can be found via the Wildlife Information Network (WIN) database or by searching for 'hedgehog rescue' with your postcode. Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Aylesbury is one of the largest dedicated wildlife hospitals in the UK and accepts hedgehogs directly.
Do not take an injured hedgehog to a standard veterinary practice without calling ahead — not all practices have experience with hedgehogs, and some wildlife organisations prefer to arrange transport to a specialist centre. Most wildlife treatments for hedgehogs are provided free of charge by rescue organisations, though donations are always welcomed.
Hedgehog Health and UK Decline
UK hedgehog populations are estimated to have fallen from around 36 million in the 1950s to fewer than one million today. Habitat loss, road deaths (tens of thousands per year), garden hazards including strimmers, netting, and bonfires, as well as declining invertebrate prey, all contribute to the decline.
You can support hedgehogs in your garden by creating hedgehog-friendly access (a 13cm gap in fences between gardens), leaving wild areas with leaves and logs, avoiding pesticides, and checking any leaf or debris piles before strimming or lighting bonfires. A hedgehog house in a quiet garden corner encourages use as a nesting and hibernation site.
The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and BHPS run the national Hedgehog Street campaign, which provides practical guidance on making gardens and streets more hedgehog-friendly. Recording hedgehog sightings on the Big Hedgehog Map contributes to national monitoring data.
Find a Vet Near You
If a hedgehog needs emergency veterinary care and no wildlife rescue is immediately available, a sympathetic vet may be able to provide stabilisation. CompareMyVet helps you find practices in your area. Visit [app.comparemyvet.uk](https://app.comparemyvet.uk) to locate a vet near you — and call ahead to confirm they can treat hedgehogs before you arrive.
Related guides
Common questions
Hedgehogs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which prohibits deliberate killing, injuring, or taking hedgehogs from the wild. Picking up an injured hedgehog for the purpose of rescue is permitted — you are acting in the animal's best interests.
Yes, if necessary. Keep the hedgehog in a high-sided box lined with a towel, with a warm covered bottle for heat. Offer water and a small amount of wet cat food. Call a rescue in the morning first thing — most prefer to give advice on overnight care by phone.
Hedgehogs should weigh at least 600g before hibernating in autumn. Those found underweight (under 450g) as winter approaches should be taken to a rescue, where they can be overwintered and fed up to a healthy weight before being released in spring.
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