With the number of hedgehog sightings declining over recent years two ladies in south Norfolk are doing their bit to care for the once common garden visitor.
Acting independently of each other, Jayne Moore and Anna Hunter take in and care for injured and sick hedgehogs at their homes and with both women self-funded they also rely on the generosity of people through donations to help buy food, medicines, equipment and hutches to care for the animals and bring them back to health before they can be released.
Mrs Moore, who lives in Wortwell, began looking after the mammals 18 months ago when she found three small hedgehogs in her garden and helped them to survive the winter.
The 49-year-old is currently caring for eight hedgehogs.
She is motivated to help the animal, which is one of the ten most endangered species in Britain, despite it taking a lot of 'effort and dedication' to nurture them back to health.
She said: 'I don't want my great-grandchildren to not know what hedgehogs are. I love them. And I think people are just unaware of them.
'I think so much can be done to save them, such as putting food out for them and creating a place for them to go, which doesn't take a lot of effort.'
Warmer winters have affected hedgehog hibernation patterns so they are waking up at the wrong time of year before there is food around, in addition destruction and disruption of habitats are to blame for the decline and ill health of the animal.
In a separate operation, animal lover Anna Hunter, who runs Waveney Valley Hogspital from her home outside Harleston, is currently caring for 28 hedgehogs despite having a full time job at the Britten-Pears Foundation, in Aldeburgh.
The 34-year-old started rehabilitating baby hedgehogs seven years ago, and like Mrs Moore is desperate to help the mammal species and encourage people to do their bit. to help them.
She said: 'Hedgehogs are in mass decline.
'And it is predicted that by 2050 they will be extinct. I know it's a very small thing I'm doing - the amount of hedgehogs I save compared to the amount that are dying is very small.'
Mrs Hunter added that even little things such as creating gaps in fences, so hedgehogs can access their natural habitat, might help prevent the need for as many to be rescued.
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust is asking people to report their sightings of hedgehogs in the region.
The Suffolk Wildlife Trust are asking people to report their sightings of hedgehogs, for more information visit http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/hedgehog-action
To contact Jayne Moore, call 01986 788952.
To contact Waveney Valley Hogspital, call 07912 674844 or visit http://www.hogspital.co.uk/
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