Snowflake escapes death
SNOWFLAKE the baby hedgehog was rescued from the snow after his tiny size left him unable to hibernate.
Little Snowflake is just a third of his normal weight and was found rummaging for food in the snow in Outwood.
But thanks to a Wakefield volunteer group and super-size diet he is making good progress.
He was named by Ralph and Pauline Hargreaves, who found him last Monday during the recent spell of freezing weather.
He was starving and struggling to find food in the garden of their Newton Drive home.
Mrs Hargreaves, 65, said: "We were clearing snow and saw him rummaging for seeds, which had dropped out of the bird feeder.
"The snow was so deep that every time he lifted his little head up you could hardly see him."
The couple took Snowflake into their garage and phoned Vets4Pets, Wakefield wildlife vets.
Snowflake was then taken to Hedgehugs, a group which looks after sick and injured hedgehogs.
Volunteer Pauline Derrig, who is now looking after Snowflake at her home on Woodside Drive, Wrenthorpe, said baby hedgehogs needed to weigh 600g before they could hibernate. Snowflake weighed just 200g and would have died.
Mrs Derrig said Snowflake was probably born in September in his mother's second litter before being left to fend for himself.
She said: "He was very wheezy and starving when brought in. We had to put him on antibiotics."
Snowflake now weighs 280g after feeding on cat food, digestive biscuits and worms.
She said: "He ate absolutely everything I put in front of him. We really want to feed him up so we have put him on a good-quality diet. He is a very friendly little thing."
Mr and Mrs Hargreaves said they were expecting to keep Snowflake in their garden when he is well enough to be released.
Hedgehugs' helpline number for people to report injured hedgehogs is 0752 7185620.
Ring this number if you want to sponsor any hedgehogs in their care.
See video footage at www.wakefield express.co.uk
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Weather for Wakefield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
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