LIFE’S not such a ball for one prickly customer who became entangled in a recycling bin net.
On Monday, Paul Quayle, whose home backs onto Molly Quirk’s Glen, Onchan, went to put a few tins into his green recycling container, only to discover a small European hedgehog entangled in the netting which was hanging down the side of the bin.
Paul said: ‘After much chopping with scissors we managed to free him. It took three of us to unravel the creature. He was quite cold and so I put him on a heat pad in a cat box. We put in a hot water bottle as well.’
Jenny Corran, small animal welfare officer at the MSPCA, said: ‘Hedgehogs are naturally inquisitive animals and, surprisingly, they can climb, especially when looking for food.
‘To ensure their safety can people always use the nets to cover their recycling bin or remove them completely if not.’
Jenny said that August was a particularly active month for them as they undertake a last rush to feed before hibernating. Many females have a second ‘late’ litter at this time as well.
‘Hedgy’, as he has become known, has made a full recovery and was put back into the wild the following evening. He was set free in the glen.
Paul added: ‘Please could you warn readers to tuck away any of this netting, as, like me, they probably won’t have thought of the dangers it poses to wandering wildlife.
‘I do appreciate they are fiddly and that prevents many householders using the net correctly.
‘The old wife’s tale for hedgehogs is to feed them bread and milk, but that can actually kill them.’
Jenny added: ‘Paul did exactly the right thing by using a heat pad to revive the animal. We would normally feed them a little water from a syringe and offer them some non-fish-based cat food to revive them. If you are not sure you can always call the MSPCA on 851672.’
Sun Nov 27, 2011 4:21 pm
