Wildlife Advice

No, the mum will leave her babies hidden in grass during the day while she looks for food. She will return periodically to check on the baby. Please make sure you don’t touch it or disturb it, so as not to scare away mum. The parent won’t come back while you are around, so it would be best to leave it alone. Always observe from a safe distance for at least 12 hours before assuming a fawn has been abandoned. Of course, if the little one is injured, then it should be taken to the nearest wildlife hospital for treatment.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal and only come out at night. Generally, any hedgehog out during the day is probably in trouble and will need to be picked up and taken to a wildlife rescue centre. You can pick them up using gardening gloves and put them into a cardboard box, although they are good climbers, so you would need to ensure it cannot escape. If you are local to us, then please bring it along to Tiggywinkles, there is no need to call first as we are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. To find your nearest rescue centre, check www.helpwildlife.co.uk

However, please note that during the summer months female hedgehogs may come out in late afternoons to forage for nesting material and extra food for her young; she will be active and should appear bright and healthy. If you are not sure if a hedgehog needs rescuing please do call us on 01844 292292 and we will help assess the situation.

Badgers and their setts are protected under law so you cannot interfere with the sett. Just enjoy having such lovely creatures close by as most people never get to see them alive.

This would depend on how mobile it is. Limping is a sign of problems but doesn’t often stop them from being too agile to catch! We all suffer from strains now and again and animals are no exception, so a limp for a few days may just be that and could improve with time. However, if the limp persists or the animal’s condition deteriorates, then it will need medical help. Catching a mobile animal can be very difficult and should only be tackled by trained wildlife rescuers to prevent injuries to yourself and the animal. You may be able to help by putting food for the animal near and then into a shed or garage for a few days to get the animal used to being in that area. Then call your nearest wildlife hospital for advice.

Molehills are thrown up only once, when the mole first moves in. As this soil is crumbly and weed-free it can easily be removed and used as a top dressing or sterile potting compost, saving some more of the gardening budget. Leave your resident mole alone and soon you will not even know he is there. If you get rid of the mole, you will find a new mole will move into the territory and throw up new mole hills as they dig new tunnels.