By Teresa Johnson, IHA Rescue Coordinator
Anyone who lives or travels in colder climate areas has learned to take
those words to heart. Those of us with hedgehogs take them even more
seriously… or should!
It’s a well known fact our beloved quilled companions need a certain level
of warmth to maintain not only comfort but good health – indeed, life itself!
Being prepared before actual need is always a good thing regardless of the
need. Here I will hopefully offer some ideas to help you plan and prepare
for the winter weather, both at home and during travel, with your hedgehog’s
warmth, comfort and safety in mind.
Travel in cold weather doesn’t have to be detrimental to the well being of
any creature if you make a few preparations beforehand. Just as you might
“layer up” against the cold, you can help your hedgehog do likewise. First,
start and warm your vehicle before bringing your hedgie out of the comfort
of your house. While your vehicle is warming, settle your hedgehog into
his or her travel carrier. I am fortunate to have been gifted some wonderful
carrier-sized liners made by Sherry Songhurst. You know the kind – outer
shell of corduroy with a layer of fleece sandwiched between. These are
wonderful in any weather but especially nice in the cold as those layers keep
the chill away from the floor of the carrier nicely. If you don’t have such,
you can layer several thicknesses of fleece or a folded flannel (human) baby
blanket on the bottom of your carrier. Next, add several fleece blankets for
your hedgehog to burrow and snuggle into. An air-activated hand warmer
can be added to assure a warm and toasty spot. Place the hand warmer in a
fleece or fabric “pocket” made to hold it, wrap it in a separate fleece blanket,
or put it in the toe of an old but clean sock. By wrapping the hand warmer,
you avoid risk burns from it coming into direct contact with your hedgehog.
Place the hand warmer at one end of the carrier, not in the middle. Your
hedgehog is smart enough to move to or away from it as needed! One final
step to assure protection from sudden blasts of cold, and sometimes wet,
winter weather is covering your travel carrier between home and vehicle
and back again. You can use a human baby blanket, a small fleecy throw, a
beach towel, or a custom-made cover for such purpose if you have sewing
talents or a friend with same. Should it be rainy or snowing, you can use
a plastic rain poncho to cover but be sure to remove it once the carrier is
placed into the vehicle to assure plenty of fresh air circulation.
Not traveling but worried about adequate heat in the home? Subject to
power outages? Preparation is key to comfort for all and peace of mind for you! Some things to consider in your
preparation and supply gathering are: Is your home all electric? Do you have a fireplace? Do you have a well?
How frequently does your area experience power outages?
It’s always a good idea to keep your car fueled up and at the ready. For short-term emergencies you can always
move hedgehogs from their larger habitats into travel carriers; start up the vehicle and move them to it for warmth.
If your house is fueled entirely by electricity, you need to prepare a bit more than most others. Before I had hedgehogs,
I lived in a house that was 100% electric – stove, well, heating system. We had an ice storm that took out
power for six and a half days! We had a small fireplace, but one had to sit right next to it to get heat. I learned
from this experience the importance of having some water bottled and on hand for drinking, how wonderful baby
wipes can be for freshening up. While I’ve always kept some candles in the home, I learned they can give a cozy
warmth just with their glow and aid in moving through an otherwise unlit house in the dark. Putting a candle near
a mirror helps increase the lighting effect.
Our next house was similar except it had propane for the heating system. It was in this house where I had my first
hedgehogs. The house was reasonably warm with no drafts. At that time I had two wire-sided hedgehog habitats.
I wrapped some old quilts and blankets over and around the sides securing with clothes pins. I sat large sevenday
candles in a ring around them and lit the candles, being careful not to get too close to the blankets but close
enough to give off a bit of radiant heat and plenty of light to peek in on my little charges. The power was restored
in just four hours and the house had only dropped to 65 degrees. While I worried and fretted; the hedgies came
through fine. They can endure cooler temperatures for short durations. But since that experience, I’ve learned to
keep some of those air-activated hand warmers on hand every fall and winter season. Snuggle-Safe discs and hot
water bottles only work if you have means to heat them!
A generator might be a good back-up source to keep furnaces working and water flowing if your home has a well
system. Still, beforehand preparation is needed. Check your generator routinely to make sure it is in good working
order and be sure to have an adequate supply of fuel to run it.
I’ve seen Coleman propane heaters made for campers. These can be a risky alternative heat source no so much
for the fire hazard potential but the exhaust. Kerosene heaters can be handy and safer as they are intended for
indoor home use. You can even put a pot of water on top of the unit to heat it and keep humidity in the air. The
drawbacks are legality in some areas is restricted, needing fuel supply for the duration of an outage and the fact
they tend to lease a nasty oily film on walls and furnishings, especially if used to any great extent. A fireplace will
give warmth, and if you have appropriate cookware, can provide warm food or water. You must have an adequate
supply of wood though and most fireplaces do not heat a large area.
When using supplemental heat sources with your hedgehogs please use some common-sense cautions. Never put
the heat discs or hand warmers openly in a habitat. Wrap them in a custom-made cover, fleece or small towel
to prevent direct skin contact. If you have a source to heat
water, you can fill pop bottles or even glass jars making
sure to secure the lids tightly. Wrap these in a small towel
before placing in a habitat. Freezer quality zip bags can be
transformed to hot water bottles too. I suggest freezer quality
bags as these are usually a heavier plastic than sandwich or
storage bags. You can fill a bag comfortably to the half-way
point, burp out the air and zip shut. Fold the opening end of
the bag under and put this bag into a second one. Burp the
second bag, wrap in a fleece blanket or small towel and place
in the habitat. Water can be re-heated again and again for
hot water bags and bottles saving your resources. Once the
power outage crisis is over, you can use that water to wash
up dishes and wheels!
Never, never, never put a candle inside a hedgie’s habitat!!!
Here’s hoping you never need to employ any of these practices.
But at least now you have some ideas to go to.
Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:24 pm
