The Hedgehog Help Switzerland association cares for injured and sick hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are under threat. Their natural habitats are disappearing. They can no longer find enough food. Road traffic and some garden tools pose a danger to them. In addition, there are too few rescue stations that care for injured and sick hedgehogs and raise motherless hoglets. We provide very practical help and work throughout Switzerland to rescue hedgehogs and promote greater biodiversity. We also provide information on what to do if you find a hedgehog that needs help.
State-of-the-art hedgehog station
Many animals arrive at our hedgehog station weakened, malnourished or injured. Here we take care of them. We stabilise their health, nurse them back to strength and prepare them step by step for their return to the wild. Our hedgehog station meets the latest animal welfare standards and is equipped with everything needed to care for injured or sick animals. Thanks to our own laboratory, we can carry out many tests ourselves and treat the animals quickly, correctly and cost-effectively. This also saves us money. We offer them a safe temporary home, nurse them back to health and finally release them back into the wild where they were found. Each year we care for around 500 hedgehogs here, and we save the lives of over 400 of them.
Our work mainly includes:
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Hand-rearing of hoglets
Newborn or young hoglets that have lost their mother need intensive care. We raise these young hedgehogs at the station with great patience and experience.
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First aid
We give newly arrived hedgehogs a medical examination and place them in a warm and safe environment so that their condition can stabilise.
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Housing
Each hedgehog is given suitable, quiet accommodation that meets its needs.
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Age determination
We determine the age of the hedgehogs so that we can adapt their care and diet accordingly.
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Weighing and documentation
Regular weight checks help us monitor the hedgehogs’ health. We document everything so that we can closely follow the progress of our charges.
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Nutrition
The right diet plays an important role in the animals’ recovery. That is why we make sure they are fed a balanced and appropriate diet.
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Care and support
Depending on their age and health, some hedgehogs need extra help with grooming or with passing urine and faeces.
Visits by appointment only
Visitors are warmly welcome at our hedgehog station by prior appointment. Please do not turn up unannounced, but arrange an appointment with us by phone. That way we can plan enough time to show you everything and answer your questions. We are also happy to show small groups around our hedgehog station.
Education and nature conservation
What makes life easier for people can make it hard for hedgehogs: garden machinery and traffic, for example. Another major problem is that more and more natural habitats are disappearing. Through information and advice, we want to help minimise dangers and make gardens and green spaces more hedgehog-friendly.
We promote biodiversity areas
Because hedgehogs can only survive if they find suitable habitats, the Hedgehog Help Switzerland association actively works to create biodiversity areas on suitable land such as gardens, parks and green spaces. We provide information and advice and are involved in various projects to promote near-natural habitats. Together with private individuals, landscaping companies, municipalities, businesses and organisations, we help to create more space for animals and nature again.
This includes, among other things:
- Enhancing existing green spaces
- Designing new near-natural habitats
- Promoting biodiversity areas
- Raising awareness of hedgehog-friendly landscape design
