Hedgehogs are having a hard time due to the ongoing drought. The animals cannot find water and food is scarce. Hedgehog shelters in the country indicate that they need to house 40 percent more hedgehogs compared to last year. Hedgehog rescuer Marleen Landman from Warmenhuizen sounds the alarm: “People can help themselves and I hope they do.”
She had actually already stopped her hedgehog shelter Dikke Prik in Warmenhuizen. When her husband Barend died of cancer at the age of 72, she decided to pull the plug after twenty years. Yet there are again three hedgehogs in the cages in Marleen Landman’s house, where the sick animals receive VIP treatment. “It’s my passion after all and that’s why I decided to continue on a small scale.”
Because in all those years she has quite a bit of expertise when it comes to rescuing sick or injured hedgehogs. For example, she developed a fungal cream and wound clay that is still used by other shelters. “Actually, I just can’t do without the hedgehogs,” she tells NH Nieuws. “It’s tough without my husband, but this also helps me keep going.”
Unknown bacteria
Because now that the need is high, Marleen cannot sit still. She is very concerned about the hedgehogs that cannot get food due to drought. “Snails and worms have crawled deep into the ground and there is a shortage of water. As a result, they get all kinds of infections and a dangerous unknown bacteria has now also been added, which means that hedgehogs are covered in wounds.”
And so, exceptionally, Marleen does take in some hedgehogs. They get a tasty chicken leg that is eaten with great pleasure. They are also washed to rid the sick animals of fungus and scabies. “It makes me sad, but also combative. The hedgehogs are not doing well, not only because of drought but also because of the spraying of poison. That is disastrous for the food chain and we will eventually notice that too.”
People can also do something themselves to help the spiny critters. For example, you can place a shallow container with water and wet cat food in the garden. “It is best to cover the food bowl, on internet you can find how to make a feeding station. Don’t give milk because it will kill them.”
The sick hedgehog Loki got a bath today, view the images below: