Scottish SPCA Rescue Hedgehogs due to Cold Snaps

A record number of hedgehogs were rescued last year by the Scottish SPCA, the organization reports on its official website.

According to the organization, they witnessed an increase in the number of hedgehogs rescued last year. Nearly 707 hogs were rescued in 2012. The number increased over a period of time, with 650 hogs rescued in 2010 and 647 hogs rescued in 2011.

Hedgehogs, the spiny mammals, hibernate in cold climates. They remain active in temperate locations. They are found in parts of Europe, New Zealand, Asia and Africa. They get their name for their unique foraging activity. They root through hedges and other undergrowth in search of small creatures. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society states that the hedgehog numbers have dropped by 25 percent in 10 years.

The rescued hedgehogs that were victims of cold snaps are being taken care of by staff at the National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire. They are currently taking care of 27 hogs that were finding it difficult to survive the low temperatures.

"We think the sudden cold snaps we've experienced during what has been a relatively mild winter has caught a lot of these hedgehogs off guard," centre manager Colin Seddon said in a press statement. "They may have thought it was warm enough to be out and then, when the temperature dropped suddenly, they were left vulnerable to the elements."

Apart from this, she states that heavy rainfall has been an important factor in washing away the nests of the hogs. The number of hogs rescued has increased because people are aware of how to help the distressed hogs. The team is preparing itself to welcome some more hogs as the winters turn severe.

She continues saying, "The hedgehogs currently being rehabilitated here will be released back into the wild once they achieve a suitable weight of over 600g and there is a consistent night time temperature of over four degrees centigrade."