West Norfolk's hedgehog hotels are fundraising for vital equipment
Two West Norfolk animal-lovers are fundraising for vital equipment to help save the area's hedgehogs after they both set up Hedgehog Hotels to help rehabilitate rescues.
Emma Pickering started Emma's Hedgehog Hotel in Terrington St Clement after discovering the work of Rachel Brown at Ryston Rachels' Hedgehog Hotel in Downham Market.
Both are entirely self-funded rescues for wild hedgehogs across West Norfolk and beyond, but now Emma is calling for donations to raise £600 for an incubator in preparation for the breeding season.
Emma, 45, who is also a third year student vet nurse at Mill House Veterinary Surgery in Lynn, said: "I absolutely adore hedgehogs and am desperate to do everything in my power to get them off the vulnerable to extinction list."
Her rescue work is self-funded, but Emma is asking for help to pay for a Brinsea TLC 50 eco incubator ahead of the spring when she expects an influx of baby hedgehogs as sheds are disturbed.
She said: "I am raising funds so that I am prepared for the patter of tiny feet. Incubators are a vital piece of equipment for Hedgehog Rescue’s so they can support neonates or any juvenile or adult hog in need."
She started her work with hedgehogs after meeting Rachel at an animal rescue, when she found a hedgehog in her garden during the day. Emma said: "I'm animal crazy anyway and it led me to foster hedgehogs from Rachel once they had finished their medication. I would help with fattening them up before helping to release them back into the wild."
"I've got a 'Hog Room' at my house where I look after them. People come to me through word of mouth, I've had some hedgehogs from Terrington Vets and yesterday I went to Wells to pick one up that a lady found in her garden. Currently I have eight hedgehogs inside, five outside and I have three people who foster hedgehogs."
Rachel set up her own hedgehog rescue in 2014, and welcomed Emma's help as she began fostering rescues and decided to set up a sister hedgehog hotel. She said: "It's been great having Emma on board. The more people who help rescue hedgehogs the better, we need to do all we can after they were put on the vulnerable to extinction list. The general consensus is that if we don't act now, there may not be any hedgehogs left within five years."
"Last year was mad, I rescued 206 hedgehogs compared to 100 the year before. I think it was because of lockdown and people being on furlough, they were at home more to notice hedgehogs."
It's a busy time of year for hedgehog rescues. "Most that come to us will suffer dehydration, they might be underweight or if they're out in the day they could get flystrike. Sometimes we get babies that have got disorientated or have wandered off, lots of ticks, dog bites and strimmer wounds," said Rachel.
She currently has 10 hedgehogs at her home, with a further 16 out with foster families while they are being rehabilitated ready for release.
Emma said: "We really want to raise awareness – a lot of people think they can keep a hedgehog in a box with some dog food and they'll be fine but hedgehogs require special care. If anyone sees a hedgehog out in the daylight, it's important they take it to a rescue shelter or contact us."
If you find a hedgehog in need of help, contact Emma or Rachel via Facebook by searching Emma's Hedgehog Hotel or Ryston Rachel's Hedgehog Hotel.
To donate to Emma's incubator fund: https://www.gofundme.com/f/emmas-hedgehog-hotel
