HEDGEHOGS are in serious decline, with everyday dangers like lawnmowers, garden forks and fires proving fatal, but one Wirral mum is doing all she can to protect nature’s prickliest customers.

The fall in hog numbers is considered so serious that the adorable little critters are likely to become extinct within a decade unless we do something to stop it.

Claire Williams has dedicated her life to rescuing needy hedgehogs and has made it her mission to protect them.

With summer now in full swing, Claire – who runs Wallasey Hedgehog Rescue with husband Steve – is urging people to check for sleeping hogs before they tend to their garden.

“The minute that garden fork goes in, if it goes into mum, that’s it and we’re left raising her babies,” said 36-year-old Claire, who was inspired by her granddad to set up the sanctuary.

“It takes 10 minutes to check for a hedgehog in your garden but if mum’s dead or injured, she can’t feed her young. Last year we had litters of six in here every seven days.”

Mum-of-four Claire has run the centre for nearly six years, caring for hedgehogs and releasing them back into the wind.

She has even helped to hand-rear hoglets who, without her help, would not have survived.

The not-for-profit organisation, which runs out of a state-of-the-art “hogspital” in Claire’s back garden – built by husband Steve – is self-funded with food donations from the public.

At present, Claire is looking after 21 hogs – but during winter has had around 70 in her care at once.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures, although mother hogs may venture out during the day to find extra food for their young.

The self-confessed hedgehog expert said: “It only takes four weeks for hogs to have babies and they’ll usually leave the nest when they’re four to five weeks old,” explained Claire.

“If people see little hoglets out, leave them alone but keep an eye on them and phone us if you know you have got a nest.”

Claire said: “If people find a nest and it’s got a mum in it, leave it – don’t pick the babies up under any circumstance unless they are in danger.

“Mum could be out looking for food and far too many people will pick them up and put them in their garden – that could be a mum with a nest to get back to and babies to feed.”

  • To donate to Wallasey Hedgehog Rescue, or if you have any questions about hedgehogs in your garden, call Claire on 0151 201 5172 or 07923830733. Claire is especially in need of fleeces to keep the young hogs warm.
     
  • Search for Hedgehog-Rescue Wallasey on Facebook.