An influx of under-weight hedgehogs are being taken to Leatherhead’s local wildlife hospital as the sudden cold weather brings in larger numbers than previous years.
The Wildlife Aid Foundation (WAF), of Randalls Road, has taken in 24 hedgehogs in the space of a week, bringing the hospital close to its capacity of 200.
Simon Cowell MBE, WAF founder and chief executive, said: "The chances of an under-weight hedgehog surviving the winter hibernation are zero.
"That’s why a hedgehog brought to us in this condition needs months of specialist care and attention, and plenty of food to restore it to health. It is a mercy mission, a matter of life or death."
Mr Cowell is urging people to keep a lookout for underweight hedgehog in their gardens and when walking in the countryside.
He said: "Our hedgehog patients always take a lot of looking after. For one thing, being voracious eaters they’ll be chomping their way through an astonishing 15,000 cans of dog food."
He added the drop in temperatures means it is difficult for young hedgehogs to get the food they need to survive the winter and will die in hibernation if they are too weak.
For more information visit www.wildlifeaid.org.uk
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