A hedgehog is fighting for survival after being found trapped upside down in a garden pipe.
Volunteers from Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue (CWR) were called to a property in Grimsby on Thursday 31 July, after the distressed animal was discovered lodged headfirst in a narrow pipe embedded in the ground.
The male hedgehog was reportedly extremely weak and unresponsive when rescuers arrived.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve encountered hedgehogs in similar situations,“ a spokesperson for the group said. “We arrived equipped with the right tools and experience to act fast.”
It is not known how long the hedgehog had been stuck, but by the time volunteers got him out, he was too exhausted even to curl into a ball — a key defence mechanism for the species.
The animal was taken to Abbey Veterinary Centre for emergency treatment where he remains. If his condition can be stabilised, the hedgehog will be transferred to Charlie’s Hedgehog Rescue.
Cleethorpes Wildlife Rescue is using the incident to highlight the importance of covering exposed holes and garden pipes, which can pose hidden dangers to native wildlife.
“Our native British hedgehogs are vulnerable to extinction and need all the help they can get to avoid preventable tragedies like this,” CWR added.
Anyone wishing to support the charity’s ongoing work can do so by donating here.
(Image: CWR)
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.