'If you see one during the day, there is something wrong' - Staffordshire animal lover who saved 800 hedgehogs in one year shares important advice
A Staffordshire woman who has saved 730 hedgehogs so far this year, and expects to save dozens more, has shared some advice to people who want to help save the dwindling hedgehog population.
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Joan Lockley was sitting at home one day when she saw a hedgehog walk across her garden, and again the next day. She knew something was wrong.
"The only thing I knew about hedgehogs was; you should never see them in the daytime," said Ms Lockley, a former housewife turned animal rescuer.
"So with this instinct for animals and loving them, I picked it up and brought it in. I got in touch with a local vet, and said 'don't laugh at me, but do you know anything about hedgehogs'.
"He knew somebody in Cannock who did, so I took her to the woman, and she told me to just put the hedgehog in a hutch and feed them - which is a long way from the truth!
"I thought 'I can do that!' so I had the one, and people started knowing me as the woman up the road who saves hedgehogs."
She soon became a registered carer with the British Hedgehogs Preservation Society.
That was nearly 24 years ago, and she has never looked back. Joan has since gone on to set up the West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue at her home in Cheslyn Hay.
When I popped in for a visit, I was greeted by Joan and her special hedgehog, Rosie. The pair have been by each other's side for five years.
Rosie is blind, which is why Joan has not released her into the wild but instead lets her run around the garden – and the house too.
Joan runs the rescue from her back garden, with her very own 'Hosprickle' in the shed which is fitted out with cages, heating, and air conditioning.
As we had a chat on the sofa, Joan told me that the population of hedgehogs has been decreasing for decades. A major factor, she said, was when cars became more popular – grassy lawns and fields got tarmacked over for roads and driveways, and hedgehogs' habitats were gone, just like that.
But there are things we can do to help the intelligent mammals.
"Have a rough patch in the garden," Joan advised. "Pretty, pristine gardens are no good, you need some rough parts so they can hide and they've got a habitat, somewhere to nest.
"And feed them, it's so simple. You can make a feeding station to stop the cats from stealing the food.
"Water is very important. Throughout the summer we lose thousands of hedgehogs because there aren't enough shallow bowls of water out that they can reach. The mums can't feed their babies, and the babies die."
This time of year is especially bad for young hedgehogs, known as Autumn Juveniles, as some hedgehog mums give birth in the autumn and there is nothing for the little ones. Just cold, wet nights.
Anyone who is interested in donating to West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue can do so by emailing joan.lockley@talktalk.net - or go to the rescue's Facebook page or website.
Hedgehogs are likely in trouble if seen in the daytime. If you are concerned about a hedgehog, do not waste time and call 01922 419532 or 07837 409533.
