Continuing our weekend of none-stop emergencies, we have had a pregnant female brought in that was in the process of giving birth.
The stress caused by being disturbed, picked up and brought in has caused to her have 3 stillborn babies so far.
Please, please – if you disturb a nest, leave it alone unless it is absolutely unavoidable, such as building works etc. Then try to keep the disturbance as little as possible. Scoop up the hog together with as much of the nest as you can in one go, and place it nearby under cover, such as under a hedge or bushy shrub etc.
Too much disturbance will result in miscarriage or stillbirth, or if the mother already has young, she may abandon them, or even kill and eat them.