Stuck hedgehog saved in 'miracle' wall rescue

A hedgehog which was stuck in a wall is recovering from its ordeal after a rescue described as "nothing short of a miracle" by an animal charity.

An out of hours ambulance driver for JSPCA Animals' Shelter managed to get the male hedgehog out a deep cavity in a wall in Old St John's Road in St Helier.

The charity said the animal was spotted by an eagle-eyed passer-by which "almost certainly saved his life".

Bex Pontin used a long-handled net and "plenty of determination" to reach the hedgehog through an "extremely narrow opening".

They added: "After a lot of patience, perseverance and creative teamwork, Bex successfully guided him into the net and brought him safely to freedom."

She was called out by the Jersey Animal Hedgehog Preservation Group who said: "Bex never gave up she kept on trying to get the hog into the net down this very narrow shaft in the end of the wall.

"After much perseverance she got him into the net with the handle end of the rake."

The 700g (24 oz) hedgehog has "short front claws from trying to climb up the inside of the shaft and two little sores on his nose, but otherwise seems unhurt," the preservation group said.

It comes as animal charities have sounded the alarm over the impact of successive heatwaves on hedgehogs.

They said the hot dry summers meant the creatures were unable to dig for insects to eat.

The RSPCA said the number of hedgehogs orphaned and left dehydrated has risen by 30% in the hot weather.

Anyone wanting to help the hedgehogs in their area should put out shallow bowls of water in their gardens, along with bowls of small cat or dog dry pet food, Gill Morgan from Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group said.

The water bowls should be filled morning and evening," she said.

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