Jules' Story
The story of Jules is not one-of-a-kind. Hedgehogs tend to get stuck. Apparently they have little spatial awareness or they just don’t take their spikes into account. Every year about 10 hedgehogs come in our rescue centre that have been stuck in netting. Most of the time these are young hedgehogs exploring the world, looking for extra food, and the net will let them through if they try hard enough. We have had Fozzy, Landak, Tiggy, Wuluwulu and Jules to name a few.
Once they get stuck, they get really stuck. Struggling and trying to get out, makes it worse. It always takes a lot of time to unravel the hedgehogs once they come in, because they do not cooperate. The ‘tickle, tickle, cut, cut’ method definitely helps. Tickling their backsides annoys them and they unroll and that way we are able to follow all the threads and cut them.
After that we tend to any wounds they might have. The thread might have cut into their skin if they have been stuck for a long time, and while being stuck hedgehogs are also prone to fly strike. After cleaning them up and treating them for any pain we also start with fluids and food so they can regain their strength.
It is a lengthy and accurate task to treat a hedgehog that has been stuck, but once completed it is very fulfilling to see it able to move again and get its strength back. Results are very good, we have a release and success rate of 90% if the hedgehogs are found on time.
