More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Keep your eyes peeled for prickly creatures - the RSPCA says we are set for 'hectic hedgehog' month.
The charity got 304 calls from Kent about injured or trapped hedgehogs last year, and 43 in July alone.
In 2018, an average of 5.7 these animals were admitted to an RSPCA specialist wildlife centre across the country.
But this rose to 12.4 in July - one every two hours.
So the charity has some tips for how to help the spike-covered animals stay safe.
This comes after an RSPCA warning following a hedgehog getting its head stuck in a glass bottle.
Remember to remove sports and fruit netting, cover drains and holes and check before using a strimmer or mower.
Look in compost heaps before forking over and avoid using slug pellets as these are poisonous to hedgehogs.
If you spot a baby hedgehog - a hoglet - on its own, the advice is to firstly check whether they actually need rescuing by watching from a distance.
If its eyes are open, its not in immediate danger but if you are concerned, offer food or fresh water.
During the summer months, only intervene straight away if you find a hoglet in immediate danger - such as on a road - and the mother has been killed or if their eyes are closed and they are alone.
Warm weather causes these animals to peak more than almost any other wild species.
And with higher numbers comes more injuries and sickness.
Evie Button, RSPCA wildlife scientific officer said: “We receive more calls about hedgehogs than about almost any other wild animal.
“July is our busiest month for hedgehogs. Not only do calls about hedgehogs peak, but so do admissions to our four wildlife centres as members of the public and our own officers bring in orphaned, sick or injured animals for treatment and rehabilitation.”
Some of the top reasons given by callers for contacting the charity about a hedgehog are sickness, injury, an orphaned hoglet or an animal is trapped or entangled.
But make sure you are careful when trying to help them - you don't want to end up with a spine stuck in your finger like Pete Doherty.
More details on hedgehogs can be found on the RSPCA website.
To report concerns about an animal contact the RSPCA’s Hotline on 0300 1234 999.
