Spike in hedgehogs means East Winch needs help
East Winch Wildlife Centre has had an influx of hedgehogs and is asking if the public can help them by donating old newspapers
The RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre is asking the public to donate newspapers to help them look after 200 rescued hedgehogs in their care.
Most of the hedgehogs receiving care are young orphans and when they arrive they are usually cold, underweight, wobbly, dehydrated, collapsed and hungry.
However with so many extra patients at the centre staff are quickly running low on newspapers -which they use as bedding and have asked the people of West Norfolk if they can help.
Centre manager Evangelos Achilleos said: “Last month we launched an appeal for help after we reached over 100 hedgehogs in our care.
“The members of the public were incredible and donated lots of dog food and items from our Amazon wishlist to help the hedgehogs.
“But now that number has doubled and we currently have 200 of them and although they are small they can need as much care and attention as our larger patients.
“They need regular feeding and as a result we are asking if the public could donate tins of adult dog food (Pedigree) as well as old newspapers as we get through incredible amounts each week caring for our prickly friends.”
“The hedgehogs are being admitted for a whole host of reasons but most are predominantly orphans who are underweight or had been found out during the day and many are very malnourished.”
“Nursing them back to health is a lengthy process and very time consuming but it’s always worth it when you can return a hedgehog back to the wild where they belong.”
A staggering 23,000 hedgehogs have been cared for by staff and volunteers at the centre since it opened in 1992.
More details on what to do if you find a sick, injured or orphaned hedgehog as well as how to help them in your garden, can be found on the RSPCA’s website.
To report concerns about an animal contact the RSPCA’s Hotline on 0300 1234 999.
Anyone wishing to support East Winch with their care of the hedgehogs can do so by either making a donation, or by purchasing some of the items needed from their Amazon wishlist.
Items include newspapers, double cat plastic feed bowls, dry hedgehog food , dog food in gravy and puppy food,
shavings used for bedding and heat pads.
The delivery address is: RSPCA East Winch Wildlife Centre, Gayton Road, East Winch, King’s Lynn, Norfolk , PE32 1LG,
