Lots of folks entered, but one special entry caught my eye and that was from Helen at Hedgehog Hollows Temuka . Helen was keen to win Holly to use as a surrogate Mama hedgehog for her hoglets to snuggle up to while they were in her care. I thought this was so gorgeous, as I have always been a hedgie fan. While the competition was still running I decided to knit another hedgehog, in case Helen's name wasn't drawn to win Holly. I named hedgehog #2 Tinsel. The draw was done and Helen did not win Holly, but I sent her Tinsel instead :) I was so delighted when Helen sent me photos of Tinsel and her new charges.
Helen is an amazing woman who has dedicated 20 years to looking after sick hedgehogs and their abandoned young. She converted an old caravan that now houses a Hedgehog Hospital.
Helen says "the adult hedgehogs that come in are usually sick or injured but most suffer from mange which is
easily treated with oil baths.
Hoglets are often abandoned by their mothers when the nest is disturbed or the mother dies so the
majority of my rescue work is looking after these little ones. Some hoglets are so small that they
require dropper feeding every 3-4 hours which is very tiring if a couple of litters come in at the
same time. It's always a bit of a celebration when they start to self feed."
Helen keeps the hoglets till they weigh around 800grams which is a good healthy weight for them to hibernate over winter. Those that don't hit their weight are kept over the colder months and released into hutches in Helen's hedgehog friendly garden the spring.
Helen takes good care of her hedgies:
"we have a special area that is fenced off to keep
them safe but they have access to the whole garden if they want to wander around. There is a feeding station in this area with biscuits and fresh water but we still find crushed up snail shells on the footpaths so know they are foraging for variety."
With a caravan full of Hedgehogs and their babies and lots of other rescue animals the pet food bill can run pretty high at Hedgehog Hollows Temuka . If you're in New Zealand and feel free to send Helen pet food to help feed her little charges she says;
"If people want to donate I always ask for the loaf style chicken kitten food and budget cat biscuits
as these are what we go through the most of."
To find out more about Hedgehog Hollows Temuka Click the link which will take you to their facebook page. If you wish to donate please contact Helen through her page on Facebook :)
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