Amputation:
We would never release back into the wild a hedgehog that has had a limb amputated.
Hedgehogs are stoic creatures and often cope well with operations and the stress of being in a rescue. They can recover from invasive surgery and their true grit means they solider on. Our view is ‘just because we can doesn’t always mean we should?’ We are always mindful that hedgehogs are wild animals and our role is to get them fully fit and back into the wild to thrive. The long term success of our soft release programs are paramount to us. We believe that releasing into the wild a three legged hedgehog is inhumane and cruel.
It’s harsh out there in the wild and quick un-painful deaths are uncommon for our Britains wildlife. An injured creature will often slowly starve and then be eaten alive.
We do not release back into the wild a hedgehog that has had a limb amputated. In our view a front leg amputation could prevent a hedgehog from digging for food and the ability to create access under fences and gates on its foraging route. it can no longer climb out of water hazards and other spaces that it may fall into. We see the parasitic burden and disease pronounced on hedgehogs with limbs missing, By using walled gardens for disabled hedgehogs we have seen that they do not survive for long without disease and that constant monitoring is essential .
The removal of a back leg prevents a hedgehog from scratching on one side. Hedgehogs love a scratch and need to be able to scratch to clean, groom and remove parasites. So much of their body is covered by inaccessible spines it’s essential they can reach all other areas. Their low slung body and resting sites means that they are in close contact with insects and it is essential they can remove them from their body by scratching. We also believe this is part of another ritual that is essential to them.
Leg amputation can effect a hedgehogs balance, it’s ability to climb and the speed they can run. Hedgehogs are good climbers and they need to be able to do this to get out of trouble if they fall into hole, into water or down steps etc. The loss of a limb will prevents their ability to get out of trouble.
They often use speed to get out of the way of a predators and to flee an open space they need to cross. They often run for cover after a period of balling if disturbed and removing a leg would slow them down considerably.
Hedgehogs are strong swimmers and the loss of a limb hinders their ability to swim and to climb out of pond. When swimming they get very tried due to stress as they are looking of ways to get our of the water so all limbs are needed to pull themselves out to safety and keep their balance whilst swimming.
While we know hedgehogs can survive in the wild with missing limbs we do not see them thrive. We have captive hedgehogs in several vegetable patches. We see sores and calluses appear on areas where limbs have been removed and they often become infected. The weight in the other legs are affected in the same way and we see lots of swelling on the opposing leg. We see regular infection and a high parasitic burden on these captive garden hedgehogs. In this captive situation we can of course treat. We have observed them in the wild but they don’t survive well. We only release into secure gardens.
If you are interested in helping a disabled hedgehog and have a secure garden or an internal or walled gardens please let us know.
