Health and welfare of rehabilitated juvenile hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) before and after release into the wild

Vet Rec. 1996 Jan 20;138(3):61-5. doi: 10.1136/vr.138.3.61.

Abstract

Thirteen wild caught juvenile hedgehogs were treated and overwintered in a rehabilitation centre and 12 were released into the wild and monitored by radiotelemetry. Clinical examinations were carried out before they were released and twice afterwards, and any hedgehogs found dead were examined post mortem. The health of the animals was generally good but dental disease, obesity and minor injuries were common. One hedgehog died before it was released and had cardiovascular and respiratory lesions, and one was euthanased 28 days after its release and had verminous enteritis and parasitic bronchitis. Three hedgehogs were killed by badgers, two were killed by road traffic and four were known to have survived when the study ended.

MeSH terms

  • Aging / physiology
  • Animal Welfare / standards*
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Dental Calculus / diagnosis
  • Dental Calculus / epidemiology
  • Dental Calculus / veterinary
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Female
  • Gingivitis / diagnosis
  • Gingivitis / epidemiology
  • Gingivitis / veterinary
  • Hedgehogs / parasitology
  • Hedgehogs / physiology*
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Nematoda / isolation & purification
  • Nematode Infections / diagnosis
  • Nematode Infections / pathology
  • Nematode Infections / veterinary
  • Rehabilitation Centers*
  • Telecommunications