WILD HEDGEHOGS ARE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE UK WITH THEIR NUMBERS BEING REDUCED DRASTICALLY IN RECENT YEARS. MODERN FARMING METHODS OFTEN RESULT IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT BEING DESTROYED, FORCING THEM MORE AND MORE INTO URBAN AREAS WHERE THEY ARE AT RISK MAINLY FROM THE MOTOR CAR. HOWEVER, IF THEY MANAGE TO SURVIVE CROSSING THE ROAD THEY THEN HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE GARDENER WHOSE FRIEND THEY REALLY ARE.

HEDGEHOGS LOVE TO FEAST ON ALL THOSE LITTLE PESTS THE GARDENER HATES BUT IF THE GARDENER PUTS DOWN SLUG PELLETS THEY CAN ALSO KILL THE HEDGEHOG WHEN HE EATS THE SLUGS. THEN THERE IS THE STRIMMER, WHICH CAN INFLICT TERRIBLE INJURIES ON A HEDGEHOG SLEEPING UNDER BORDER PLANTS. BONFIRES CAN BE ANOTHER BIG KILLER OF HIBERNATING HEDGEHOGS.
   
THE DORSET HEDGEHOG HOSPITAL AND ITS MANY LITTLE PATENTS, RELY ENTIRELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF BUSINESSES AND THE PUBLIC TO ENABLE THE SICK OR INJURED ADULT AND BABY HEDGEHOGS TO HAVE THE CARE AND TREATMENT THEY NEED TO RECOVER.

CRASH IS A REGISTERED CHARITY FINANCED ONLY BY DONATIONS, AND VARIOUS FUND RAISING EVENTS.

Feeding time at the Hedgehog Hospital
This usually has to be done in shifts as there is seldom enough space to get all the little patients out of their cages at the same time.
Of course many are too ill to leave their cages and have to be hand fed which takes a great deal of time. Their favourite lunch is usually cat food. Tins of cat food are always welcome.
These little hoglets are always hungry and need feeding at regular intervals throughout the day and night. When mum is no longer around it means someone has to go without a good nights sleep to keep them fed.