Hot weather leaves hoglets 'on brink of death'

Rescuers said they have seen an rise in hoglets being abandoned by their mothers

A hedgehog hospital said it had been the worst year ever for hoglets as mothers were abandoning their litters due to a lack of food and water.

Keyford Hedgehog Rescue and Rehab near Frome, in Somerset, said recent hot weather had contributed to the situation.

Spring 2025 was the UK's warmest and sunniest on record, with the first half of summer bringing three heatwaves.

Jennie Owen said hoglets were being taken to the centre "on the brink of death", "So far this year we've had 68 young hedgehogs (born this year) and 12 adult hogs. Last year at the same time we had 22 young hogs and 10 adults. Twice we have had to close our doors to new admissions as we've had no spaces for any more."

Ms Owen said "This year we're seeing the worst season we've ever had, and hedgehogs are coming that are severely dehydrated or emaciated."

"Once they get that [dehydrated], their internal organs shut down, so it's quite sad really that we're seeing such an increase in that," Mr Owen added.

"We have had a lot of babies this year," she added. "Mother hogs abandon their litters when there's not enough food and water. It's really sad."

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society said the hedgehog population has been in decline since 2000.

Ms Owen first started caring for the animals in her home before setting up the hospital and rescue centre in a converted garage.

She is trained in giving first aid to hedgehogs, having completed some of her training at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in Highbridge, Somerset.

Once the hedgehogs are nursed back to health they are released as quickly as possible back into the wild

She said many animals taken to the centre are released back into the wild.

"They always go back out where they have been found. They have a territory," she explained.

She urged anyone who finds a hedgehog not to try to look after it themselves but to contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society or Keyford Hedgehog Rescue.