Bev’s Hallowe’en SOS for hedgehogs

ENNIS-based 2012 Irish Veterinary Nurse of the Year, Bev Truss, has appealed to people to check their gardens for signs of hedgehogs in the run up to Hallowe’en.
Think first before moving, destroying, cutting down and cleaning up gardens, is her message.
Bev explained, “Hogs love to sleep during the day in piles of our garden rubbish. We pile up the leaves, twigs and cuttings and leave for a few days before having a garden bonfire. Hedgehogs curl up into a tight spiky ball when in danger but this is no match for a fire. Many hedgehogs die every year in bonfires, so move your bonfire and make sure there are no sleepy hedgehogs in there before lighting it, especially at this time of the year as Hallowe’en approaches.”
“Strimmers and lawn mowers kill and injure hundreds of hogs every year, not only in gardens but in fields and roadsides. Before strimming, use your foot to find a nest, they are ball-like as the hedgehog will circle round and round till the grass is wrapped around him for camouflage. The other way to help is by not strimming close to the ground but about 30cm above the ground thereby missing a hog or a nest, saving the adult and perhaps her hoglets as well. Garden netting and football nets can also cause a hedgehog to become entangled and injured, so please check nets and tie up football nets when you are finished with them,” she said.
The animal behaviourist, who was named veterinary nurse of the year for her work with Charles Kenny in Ennis, has just been to the third Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Trust annual conference in Meath.
The Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Trust exists to promote wildlife rehabilitation and improve wildlife welfare and conservation in Ireland.
This year focused on hedgehogs, badgers, squirrels and bats, with expert speakers from Ireland, the UK, USA and Canada making the trip to cover topics such as mammal first aid and common conditions, handling and veterinary care of bats, bird rescue and basic care, post release monitoring of wildlife casualties, squirrel conditions and treatments, badger rescue treatments and TB and all things hedgehog.
Also covered was rescue and short-term care of wildlife, identification of species, nutrition, first aid, rehabilitators’ requirements and veterinary treatments.