A TEIGNBRIDGE hedgehog rescue centre is in urgent need of volunteers as the spring season approaches. 

Founded by Rick and Jacky Parker, and their daughter Emily, ELM Wildlife is a family-run charity which rescues and rehabilitates hedgehogs in Devon; the team is gearing up for its busiest period with the hedgehog mating season right around the corner.

Based in premises at Seale-Hayne, Newton Abbot, the centre has capacity for approximately 220 hogs with as many as 20 hogs and hoglets being admitted per day during busy periods.

The charity is supported by a pool of roughly 120 volunteers who dedicate their time either by helping to run the centre day-to-day – seven to eight volunteers each day working four-hour shifts; or by acting as one of the charity’s ‘ambulance drivers’, picking up hedgehogs in need and transporting them to the centre.

Fuelled throughout their shift at the centre with plenty of tea, cake and biscuits, volunteers work hard cleaning out cages, handling, weighing and performing visual checks of the hedgehogs and ensuring they are fed and watered: all the while being mindful of cross contamination.

Linda Route from Paignton is one helper. She has been dedicating her Tuesdays to volunteer at the centre for many months

‘I had no idea how good for the ecology hedgehogs were, I have learned loads being here: when the hogs need help and when to leave them alone!’ she said with a smile.

Each hedgehog has its own cage in which to recuperate.

The hog’s medical records are attached and the inside is lined with a bed of shredded newspaper – the material preferred by the hogs as it’s soft, generally absorbent and allows for them to burrow.

Some hedgehogs can’t maintain their body temperature for one reason or another and so these hogs are housed in cages outfitted with a heat mat.

Every cage is cleaned out at the beginning of the day and the newspaper is swapped out for freshly shredded sheets.

The patients are fed once a day with a portion of either cat or dog food which is supplemented with the occasional kitten biscuit. During peak times the hogs can consume between 80 and 100 cans of food per day – the kitchen is a sight to behold during mealtime.

The length of stay varies by animal: some hogs are undergoing treatment for internal parasites, some are recovering from ringworm and some, such as Barnaby, are looking at an indefinite stay. Due to a suspected genetic abnormality the poor critter can’t retain his quills and would be left defenceless if confronted with a predator in the wild.

Once a hog has finished its course of treatment, achieved the threshold weight of 500 grams give or take and has been given the final all-clear, they are then ready to be released into the wild – ensuring the temperature at night is consistently above five degrees.

The aim is to return them to where they were found so long as they weren’t in immediate physical danger at the time of their rescue.

However, this isn’t always possible and in these circumstances the charity finds a suitable rehoming location elsewhere.

Discovering the charity through its Facebook page, Alison and Peter Wood-Goss decided to help out by purchasing a brand new tumble dryer for the charityfrom Sparkworld Ltd at Heathfield, who generously discounted the price by £50 upon learning of the intended recipient.

Alison said of EML Wildlife: ‘It’s absolutely amazing – it’s a cause close to our hearts as we have hedgehogs in our garden.’

The couple have two hedgehog houses in their garden frequented by many a hog throughout the summer months.

‘Not everyone can volunteer but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still help,’ she said. ‘Whether that’s raising money or indeed putting you hand in your own pocket.’

Emma Hickson began as a volunteer back in 2020 and is now a trustee. 

She said: ‘I have always loved animals, especially hedgehogs, they are little creatures who have everything stacked against them 

‘It is definitely hard work, with some of us juggling full time jobs, but it is very rewarding work.’