Hedgehog Shelter in Naarden Who cares?

Do you?

Srishti Sinha, IS10b 14th November 2013 Personal Project Product: Article Supervisor: Ms Hoogervorst

First of all, What are hedgehogs?First of all, what are

hedgehogs? Hedgehogs are

mammals with many quills on

their backs. There are several types of hedgehogs as well,

specifically, the European hedgehog can be found in the

Netherlands. Egelbescherming

en Eekhoornopvang Naarden rescues

wounded or infant hedgehogs throughout

the year and

rehabilitates them before releasing

them back into the wild again.

Hedgehogs are a

protected species in the Netherlands however

they are not endangered. The hedgehogs are found

during the day mostly and

brought to the shelter. It is especially worse during the

winter because they are meant to hibernate during that period of

time.

Approximately 1000

hedgehogs are brought in per

annum, especially during the months from August to

November. This is due to a large

amount of stranded infant hedgehogs who are either sick or

have simply lost their family and cannot survive the harsh winter

that they are about to encounter

since most are born during those months. It

is especially harder to look after

young hedgehogs because they are lactose intolerant and cannot

be fed regular milk or any other diary products. A special solution

is made at the shelter, which

provides the right nutrients for the rapid growth of the

younglings. Since there are

usually stranded nests the workload of the volunteers at the

shelter increases because each hedgehog baby must be fed

approximately 3 times per day or

more and a minimum of 10% of their body weight should be

consumed. The more younger baby hedgehogs can be fed

goat milk, which

contains no lactose because it is smoother

to drink for them whilst regular babies

drink what is known

as R.C. Since the large amount of

hedgehogs that come in it is a very tough

period since none can be

returned to the wild either just before winter or they must

wait the entire winter before being released back into the wild.

The litters spend the first winter

together after the mother has already left and then they disband

and live alone. Most of the litter rarely survives the first winter if

born too late or by disturbance of

the nest.

Parasitic Diseases: Definition:

Cappillaria Aerophilia (Lung hairworm) They are found in the bronchioles of the hedgehog. The symptoms vary from coughing, sneezing to blocked nasal passages and no appetite resulting in weight loss. They infect the rest of the body by the female lung hairworm laying eggs in the trachea that are then coughed up into the saliva and swallowed down into the digestive system. The eggs are then excreted and mature to be passed on to other hedgehogs by earthworms that serve as hosts for the now infectious larvae for a maximum of three weeks.

Cappillaria Erinacei and Ovorecticulata (Intestinal hairworm): These internal parasites are similar to Cappillaria Aerophilia however they are found in the stomach and intestines. The eggs of these species are a darker brown colour and thinner than that of Aerophilia’s. The symptoms however are much worse with the intestinal hairworm. They can vary from diarrhoea to emaciation, inflammation in a section of the intestines and excreting blood in the faeces. The eggs are excreted as well and mature in 5-7 weeks before being transmitted to a new hedgehog through an earthworm in the 25-27 days it acts as the host.

Giardiasis: These are a little less commonly found but are still found in hedgehogs. They are found in the small intestines and cause many symptoms such as diarrhoea, weight loss and agitation. The eggs follow the same pathway as the intestinal hairworm eggs by being excreted in the faeces and developing into larvae before the earthworm being their host for a maximum of 3 weeks.

The external parasites (fungal and skin diseases) are also quite difficult to cure and expensive but they cause a

lot of damage and must be handled.

External Diseases:

Candida Albicans (Yeast fungus): This type of fungus is vegetative and multiplies by breeding a propagative way. They are very small round cells that form in clusters and can be seen under the microscope when examining the faeces of a hedgehog. They could infect all organs present in a hedgehog and weaken the hedgehog’s immune system making it very susceptible to other diseases that could potentially kill it. The symptoms of yeast fungus are a lack of appetite resulting in weight loss, diarrhoea and inflammation of the intestines. This is a very contagious fungus and must be handled with extreme caution as not to pass on the infection.

These are just some of the reasons that the hedgehog shelter is necessary because it aids the helpless

animals. The main reason they are needed however is because of the illnesses that the hedgehogs encounter.

Hedgehogs are susceptible to many parasites and conditions in the wild. These vary from external issues to

internal diseases. Hedgehogs also have parasites specifically intended for their species such as ticks, fleas and

more. The Egelbescherming en Eekhoornopvang Naarden care for these ill hedgehogs and cure them of

their diseases using specially obtained, expensive medicine. They are then released back into the wild or in

some extreme cases the hedgehogs are humanely euthanized if nothing can be done to ease their suffering.

The diseases that the hedgehogs contract are found in their habitat and the number of sick hedgehogs is

rising per year. The most common parasitic diseases are (Based on Interview with Yolanda (page 5)):

Caparinia Tripilis (Mites): These mites are specifically found on hedgehogs and are approximately 0.4 millimetres long and very hard for the naked eye to see. They are visible and resemble the shape of sand granules unlike under a microscope where the full features can be observed. They infest and breed on the skin of the hedgehog causing rough skin and the loss of quills which leaves the hedgehog with no way to protect itself.

Sarcoptes (Mites): These mites are very similar to that of Caparinia Tripilis. The female mites vary from 0.3-0.5 millimetres whilst the males are smaller in size. The symptoms are more severe than the other mites because they cause scabs, flaky and scaly skin, quill loss, redness and nodules on the infected hedgehog. These mites can transport infectious ringworms to the hedgehog as well leaving it even more vulnerable to other diseases. The development rates of the mites vary since the females take 3 weeks to fully develop and males only 12 days.

Hedgehog being administered with an injection

known as Levacol (to cure the lung hairworm)

The Number of hedgehogs that are being brought into the shelter has

risen substantially since the founding of the rescue centre. This is due to

more sightings in the day, which hints that something is wrong since

they are nocturnal. Hedgehogs will go out of their natural patterns

when sick and thus they are found by humans and brought in for help.

Since the number of hedgehogs received has increased so has the

workload and the costs of the shelter as well. The current situation is

that they must look for an affordable location which they can rent since

the current property is too costly since the hedgehog’s care comes first

(Parasitosen en Mycosen bij de egel, Egelbescherming Nederland)

Data gathered from Jaarverslag 2012, Egelbescherming Nederland

and the medicine is expensive. For example: One medicine used is called Imaverol. It is used for treating severe

skin diseases in hedgehogs, which causes them to loose their quills. A 100-milliliter bottle of this solution costs

20 euros(Vetinal, 2013) when 50 milliliters of this solution is needed to give one bath to one hedgehog. This is

a very costly treatment but cures the hedgehog as well.

The shelter had come into financial problems

during their early years. In 2001 they faced

problems such as having no financial

subsidization and the rising number of

hedgehogs being brought in. Later in the years

they were granted a status which allowed them

to benefit from some subsidization however with

the number of hedgehogs rising with the babies

having to stay longer this money will not help

them very much. They received a subsidization

of €3134 in 2009 from the government

(Gemeente Bussum, PDF). This has lasted them

Financial Issues

a while but with the numbers increasing even more the

amount of food, medicine and energy being used is rising as well leaving them with even more financial

problems. Many other hedgehog shelter in the Netherlands are facing financial trouble as well. The

Hedgehog Shelter in Roosendaal, Brabant has faced many problems and have barely been able to continue.

The hedgehog shelter in Roosendaal was very close to closing it’s doors in 2010 until a big donation was

made to subsidize the organization so that it could continue (Egelopvang Roosendaal Nieuwsbrief, 2011).

This hedgehog shelter had only received 300 hedgehogs that year and still found itself in problems whilst

the hedgehog shelter in Naarden received 1214 hedgehogs the very same year. This hedgehog shelter helps

the most hedgehogs in the Netherlands and if it goes then there will be a dim future for the European

hedgehog in the Netherlands.

Before and After

“Without your help we are unable to do our

work. The financial crisis is effecting us as well

and whilst we are faced with economizing, prices

rising and more hedgehogs.” (Jaarverslag

Egelbescherming Nederland, 2011)

Fact!Adult hedgehogs weight

between 800 to 1700 grams!

Interview with Yolanda & Ineke

Interview with Yolanda:What do you exactly do at the hedgehog shelter?I investigate the faeces of the hedgehogs and examine them for eggs, larvae or worms to identify the specific type of disease and start the right course of treatment.

Do you think the shelter will be able to sustain itself in the upcoming years with the amount of money it currently gets?I have no insight on the financials of the shelter however I have heard it is getting worse.

What do you think people can do to help?They can donate money for medicine, food and renting the property.

What would happen to the hedgehogs if they aren’t cured?They would die or infect other hedgehogs in the wild which puts their species at risk.

Interview with Ineke (Dayleader Wednesday, Friday and Sunday):How long have you been working at the hedgehog shelter now?I have worked here since January 2005.

What is the worst case you have seen of a sick or injured hedgehog?The worst case that I have witnessed was of a hedgehog who was missing half his head and quills with red, open raw skin. This was caused by a dog attack.

Are you worried that the shelter might close because of the lack of money?Yes, I am worried but I have hope and believe that everything will work out.

Why do you think there isn’t enough money?The income is lower than the amount of money spent at the shelter and I think that is the main reason that there are financial issues.

Fact!

Hedgehogs have litters

ranging from 1 to 11

babies!!!

Fact!Adult hedgehogs have

approximately 5000 quills!

Fact!There are 15 different

types of hedgehog species

Fact!

Hedgehogs are lactose

intolerant and cannot

consume dairy products

Fact!

The European hedgehog

hibernates during the

winter!

<Hedgehog (European), Amazing facts about

hedgehogs>

How can YOU help?The Hedgehog shelter is run entirely by volunteers and has no paid workers. It is a non-profit organization

and all the money goes directly to funding the the shelter and helping the hedgehogs. They treat and

rehabilitate the hedgehogs and then release them back into the wild. They are in need of donations to keep

them going since that is the a very important source of their money. There are many things you could do

other than donating as well such as volunteering at the shelter from the age of 14 onwards where you will

clean cages, feed them with bottles and look after them. There is also the possibility to work there in the

administrative department as well as a telephone operator. The public is also needed because they are the ones

who find the hedgehogs and bring them to the shelter to be looked after. It would not be possible without

YOU! Hedgehogs need your help because they cannot help themselves like us. So contribute by doing one of

the following things:

1.Becoming a Donator

2.Becoming a Volunteer

3.Becoming part of the Administrative team

4.Becoming a Telephone Operator

5.Becoming a Open/Closed Garden Owner

6.Bringing in any hedgehogs seen during the

day, especially small ones.

What to do when finding a hedgehog?First of all check if it is a hedgehog in need. Does it look

injured? Does it look thin? Is it out during the day? Is it awake

during the winter? How big is it?

These are just some of the things that need to be taken into

consideration when finding a hedgehog. The main motto of

the hedgehog shelter is that if it was found in the day it must

be brought into the shelter.

1. When finding one, carefully pick it up around it’s stomach

and place it in a box with cloths or towels and a water bottle

filled with hot water wrapped in a cloth to keep the

hedgehog warm. Do not forget about air holes so it can

breathe.

2. Call the hedgehog shelter near you. The details can be

found on www.egelbescherming.nl under Dier in Nood,

Egel in Nood and Adreslijst. If you do not have access to

the internet call: 035-6468669 to inform them of the

situation

3. Then bring the hedgehog to the shelter or call the

Dierenambulance to bring them there for medical attention.

Help the

Hedgehogs!

Visit

www.egelbescherming.nl

for more

information!