Hedgehog nearly burns alive in Pevensey Bay bonfire

Residents spotted the creature crawling for its life out of the fiery woodpile in their Pevensey Bay garden.

They called wildlife rescue charity WRAS (East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service) and rescuer Thea Taylor rushed to the scene.

She said, “When I arrived I checked the hedgehog over and it was clear he had been one very lucky hedgehog!

“There were lots of burnt spikes, he was suffering from smoke inhalation, and on first glance it didn’t look like the skin was badly affected, so I rushed the hedgehog back to WRAS’s casualty centre.”

Once at the centre in Whitesmith, casualty manager Karen Francis checked the hedgehog, weighing over 1 kilo in weight, for burns and other injuries.

She said, “I couldn’t find anything serious but he had a lot of burnt spines which smelt horrible.”

First aid was provided to the hedgehog including giving oxygen for the effects of the smoke inhalation and bathing him in cool water to ease the effects on the skin.

WRAS’s Vet Mike Symons later checked the hedgehog over and was happy with its condition and treatment.

The spiny critter will now be kept under observation to monitor his breathing and skin condition to ensure no complications develop.

Karen said, “The hedgehog will need to be closely monitored and only time will tell whether the skin has been badly effect, we hope he will make a full recovery.”

The incident has sparked a warning to the public to ‘think hedgehog’ and be careful when lighting bonfires.

WRAS founder Trevor Weeks said, “As we go into winter many hedgehogs will be finding places to hide up and hibernate.

“It is unclear how may hedgehogs and other wildlife are killed in bonfires each year, mainly because they rarely get found afterwards.

“Numerous people have unfortunately had their bonfire celebrations ruined after finding escaping hedgehogs and other wildlife crawling out from bonfires burnt or injured.”

WRAS has shared its top tips for keeping hedgehogs and other wildlife safe this bonfire season:

• Re-site the entire bonfire pile before being lit where possible

• Use broom handles to lift the bonfire up to check for wildlife sleeping inside before lighting the fire. Use torches to check underneath and listen carefully for any signs of life.

• With larger bonfires, erect a mesh fence with an overhang round the bonfire to avoid small wild mammals getting inside

• Light the bonfire at one side rather than all round so that any animals or bird inside have a chance to escape

• Move bird feeders and other food left out on the ground for wildlife away from the bonfire site for at least a week before building a bonfire

• Light bonfires away from over hanging trees and bushes

• Use fireworks away from trees and woodland

• Place a hedgehog house or simple small hutch with clean and fresh straw, hay and hand shredded paper to provide an alternative home for any animals which might be visiting your garden

• Have a bucket of water available in care you need to put out the fire or an animal on fire

• Know who to call if you find an injured wildlife casualty

WRAS’ office can be contacted on 01825 873003 and its 24 hour emergency rescue line is available at: 07815 078234.

Hedgehogs have not hibernated this winter, says wildlife rescuer