How to Help Hedgehogs: Advice from Prickles & Paws

Prickles & Paws Hedgehog Rescue is a registered Cornish charity founded by mother-and-daughter team Diane and Katy. What began with two rescued hoglets grew into a dedicated rescue, rehabilitation and release service, which became a registered charity in 2017.

In February 2026, the charity moved from its original garden facility in Cubert to a purpose-built Hogspital on the edge of the Carnanton Estate near Newquay Airport. The Cubert site is now permanently closed. The new setting gives the team more room to care for the many hedgehogs admitted from across Cornwall each year.

How Prickles & Paws Began

Katy’s commitment to wildlife began when she rehabilitated two young hoglets and released them back into the wild. Diane soon joined her, and the small family effort developed into a professional rescue supported by volunteers, veterinary expertise and specialist facilities.

The charity now takes in up to 1,400 hedgehogs a year. Each animal is assessed, stabilised and given the treatment and rehabilitation needed before it can return to a suitable release site.

Custard and Cream’s Recovery

Custard and Cream were a brother-and-sister pair admitted to the rescue underweight and dehydrated. Like many hedgehogs found outside during the day, they needed careful assessment and supportive treatment.

“When a hedgehog comes into us, we carry out a full health check, assessing body condition, hydration and temperature, followed by a head-to-toe assessment. Once stable, any further tests and treatment can begin, helping the hedgehog prepare for release back into the wild.”

– Katy, Prickles & Paws

Custard and Cream recovered well and were successfully released.

Rescuing Hedgehogs Across Cornwall

Another hedgehog was brought in after being found dehydrated in a road during the day. A volunteer transported him to the rescue, where the team provided fluids and warmth before beginning his rehabilitation.

How to Tell If a Hedgehog Needs Help

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so seeing one during the day can be a warning sign. There are exceptions, particularly for adult females during breeding season, so contact a rescue for advice rather than relying on one sign alone.

Contact a rescue or vet promptly if a hedgehog:

• Is bleeding, limping or visibly injured
• Has fly eggs that look like tiny grains of rice or sawdust
• Is trapped or entangled, even if it has been freed
• Appears wobbly, unusually still, cold or lethargic
• Is a young hoglet found alone and you are unsure whether its mother is nearby

A few ticks or a hedgehog’s weight alone are not necessarily reasons to intervene. If you are uncertain, follow the charity’s current hedgehog rescue guidance and call for advice.

What to Do While You Wait for Advice

In Cornwall, call Prickles & Paws on 07926 576164 between 8.30am and 8pm. Outside those hours, contact a local vet.

• Use gardening gloves or an old towel to place the hedgehog in a high-sided box.
• Add a towel, fleece or torn newspaper so it can hide and feel secure.
• Place a sealed bottle of warm tap water beside it, making sure the hedgehog can move away from the heat.
• Offer a shallow dish of fresh water.
• Do not attempt to treat injuries or remove fly eggs, ticks or entanglements yourself unless a professional advises you to do so.

How to Help Hedgehogs in Your Garden

• Leave fresh water: Put out a shallow dish and refresh it regularly, particularly during warm weather.
• Offer suitable food: Cat or kitten biscuits are suitable, as is wet cat or dog food. Avoid bread, milk and mealworms.
• Create safe access: Leave a small gap at the base of a fence so hedgehogs can travel between gardens without using roads.
• Check before clearing: Look carefully through leaves, compost and garden waste before moving or disposing of it.
• Check bonfires: Rebuild or thoroughly inspect a bonfire immediately before lighting it.
• Add a pond escape: Fit a gently sloping ramp or place stones at the edge so wildlife can climb out.

The charity’s wild hedgehog feeding advice has further guidance on providing food safely.

Whistlefish and Prickles & Paws

Whistlefish is proud to support and raise awareness of Prickles & Paws and the important work it carries out for Cornwall’s native hedgehogs. You can learn more about the organisations supported by Whistlefish on our charity partnerships page.