A HEDGEHOG rescue centre based in the Bradford district is appealing for funds to maintain its service after experiencing its busiest year.
Hedgehog Emergency Rescue, Bingley, Yorkshire (HERBY), based in Eldwick, looks after the much-loved spiky animals, often after they have experienced an injury.
The service was founded by Stephanie Knowles in 2013 and she and her team of around 30 volunteers take care of the animals. The hedgehogs stay at the rescue centre for an average of three weeks or six weeks if they have suffered an injury.
The centre has launched a rolling monthly online fundraising page to pay for the upkeep of the service. It needs at least £1,000 each month to keep going. This pays for vets bills, medication for the hedgehogs and heating and lighting bills.
Stephanie says the average cost of looking after a hedgehog under the centre’s care has increased from £60 to £100 due to the increase in the cost of medication needed for the animals.
The centre is currently looking after 82 hedgehogs and is closed to taking in any more animals as it tries to cope with demand.
Stephanie says some of the most common reasons the rescue centre needs to care for hedgehogs includes the animals getting caught in football goal netting, getting stuck in holes and fences and eating things they should not including slugs.
She said: “Hedgehogs are one of the few creatures that is appealing as a child and an adult. They have this happy-go-lucky thing about them. “It costs about £1,000 each month on average that we look for to keep the centre going. We looked for £1,200 last month as we had extra costs.
“I usually end up putting about £300 of my own money into the funds for the centre each month, as we never raise the full amount of money.
“We don’t get any money from any official bodies. All hedgehog rescue centres are self-funding.
“It’s getting busier and busier each year. Last year was crazy, this year is crazier. Last year demand doubled and this year has gone up a third on that.
“It’s very busy. We have had 12 mums give birth at the centre this year, it’s been insane.
“I do talks in schools about hedgehogs too.”
Stephanie says she has experienced abuse from people over the phone when she tells them she does not have space to take in their hedgehog.
Go to gofundme.com/f/saving-hedgehogs-in-the-aire-wharfe-valleys to make a donation.
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