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baby hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

Photo by valentinezza
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

I found this baby hedgehog at night, in the middle of a street: it was lying on his side, probably was sick and did not move. I brought it home, putting it warm with food and water next to it. Unfortunately it did not survive.

Reference Links:

European hedgehog

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (10)
Saumya Wanniarachchi
So sad to hear , but still you tried your best ! Thank you for keeping the little one warm and comfortable on its last hours ! Very kind of you ! !!!!
valentinezza
Despina what you do is admirable, really. When I found the little hedgehog and I was going home, I also saw a kitten crushed by machines: I believe that the hedgehog would have suffered the same fate if I had not brought home. I was born in the countryside, in all these years I have helped many small animals injured or abandoned, I know that Mother Nature is often cruel, but I think there is a reason why all this is happening. Probably the puppy was too weak to survive, but it's always a disappointment when a rescue attempt ends in this way. Thank you for your words Despina, and thanks to everyone else who commented! :)
DespinaTsafetopoulou
Dear @valentinezza, I am raising baby hedgehogs and other mammals, every year, in Greece and in NZ...Unfortunately no matter how much effort you put in their survival, they still die, it's a great dissapointment...Last time I was handed a litter of 4 baby hedgehogs in NZ, only one survived, and within a whole year on Greece, from 8 babies, just 2 managed to make it... Still I have to tell you that in my hometown, the only wildlife center closed 5 years ago because of the economical crisis, but all the remaining volunteers (4 people) we try our best...We are not gods, we are humans....Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand and make things better...Wildlife deaths occure all the time, just think that the baby could have died in the cold tar, from a car's tyres...
gladys and her boys
Oh I am sorry. I know the feeling of disappointment, though you knew it would not likely survive. As I have told my young sons many times, you tried your best and in the end that is what matters.
mcaul6515
So sweet. I'm sorry it did not survive, I have taken care of baby birds that fall out of nests or are abandoned and they rarely survive. Nature makes sure only the strongest survive...sad, but true. :(
valentinezza
You're right Despina, but I think that this puppy was already dying when I found it in the night, in the middle of the street. I placed it in a box in the heat, but it did not move and was breathing heavily. I got up early in the morning, a few hours later and it was dead. It's really a pity that there is not a rehabilitation center for wildlife here where I live. Unfortunately, I think that puppy was too ill. It was a big disappointment for me.
DespinaTsafetopoulou
If it was smaller than 100 grams in weight, it would be almost impossible to survive without its mom... And still, there's 50/50 chance for survival, when they are hand raised, even if they are bigger than 150- 200 grams...Anything can go wrong: the milk formula, the bottle feeding, the lack of food proteins, the heat in the box... At least you tried for its best...
injica
Troppo carino <3, mi piace un sacco come ha messo la manina!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project
Mission
Italy's flora and fauna
Photographed
PublishedAugust 12, 2013

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