New 'Hogspital' Boosts Care for Injured Hedgehogs

A significantly expanded hedgehog rescue and rehabilitation centre has officially opened its doors in Newquay, Cornwall, marking a new era for the care of these vulnerable creatures. The new facility, named Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue, represents a £300,000 investment funded entirely through donations and community fundraising efforts. This expansion allows the centre to dramatically increase its capacity, aiming to help up to 1,400 hedgehogs each year from Cornwall and parts of Devon. The charity director emphasized the continually growing need for their services and their commitment to never turning away an animal in need. The state-of-the-art 'hogspital' is equipped with 14 incubators, an oxygen incubator, and dedicated pre-release areas, facilitating the entire rehabilitation process on-site. This comprehensive approach ensures that hedgehogs receive all necessary care from admission through to their return to the wild. Co-founder Diane South noted a concerning trend of injuries sustained from garden tools, such as strimmers, particularly at this time of year. The charity is urging the public to exercise caution when using garden equipment, advising checks of long grass and leaf piles to prevent accidental harm to hedgehogs, whose natural defense mechanism of curling up makes them vulnerable.