Newcastle Hedgehog Rescue Service

Our guest speaker was Denise Hopewell (who likes to be called Denny), and she was assisted by her colleague and trainee vet, Kitty. Denny leads the Newcastle Hedgehog Rescue service. She has operated the service for 17 years, taking in over 900 sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs every year. After nursing them back to health, she either releases them back into the wild, or securely keeps those that cannot be released. Denny explained that the service was not for profit, and has to rely on donations from the public to continue. Most medical care provided by vets is very expensive so funding is tight. She then summarised her work in setting up the rescue service, and her new wildlife hospital/centre in Silverdale.

Denny then progressed from providing general detail, to describing a number of key facts about hedgehogs.

1. What do they look like? The hedgehog’s back and sides are covered in 1-inch long spines, which are actually modified hairs. These are absent from the face, chest, belly, throat and legs which are covered with a coarse grey-brown fur.

2. What do they normally eat?  They eat a lot of beetles, along with caterpillars and earthworms. Although many people are aware that hedgehogs are insect eaters, they also feed them with meat-based pet food, which hedgehogs will avidly devour. Hedgehogs rarely stay close to their nests, and usually visit several gardens within an area, so if you think you have been visited by a hedgehog, you have probably been visited by several. Hedgehogs are inquisitive and will try to eat almost anything, a trait that can be harmful to them. Hedgehogs can drink water, but never cow’s milk.

3. How best to assist hedgehogs?  Help them to avoid man-made hazards and provide them with suitable places to nest, especially in the winter. Slug Pellets should not be used. Hedgehogs are now able to survive very well in our cities, and are very comfortable in public and private gardens.

Denny and Kitty then conducted an extensive question and answer session, which was still in full flow when the chairman called time.  

We thank Denny and Kitty for an enjoyable and educational presentation.