Hedgehog Care Assistants
Every day, the hedgehogs in our care need weighing, their cages cleaned, food and water supplying, and their records updated. Many also require medication.
With over 100 hedgehogs in care, this is a time consuming process carried out every day, and for those on intensive care, twice a day. We are looking for volunteers who can offer three hours at a time on a regular rota basis to assist with the daily care routines.
Shifts are currently 10a.m – 1p.m 7 days a week.
Hamworthy Hedgehog Rescue volunteers assist other personnel with daily operations and with special events.
Duties include:
- • Feeding, weighing and grooming the hedgehogs
- • Assisting finders and foster carers with information on hedgehogs
- • Cleaning the hedgehog cages and/or hutches
- • Cleaning and organising food storage/prep area
- • Sweeping/cleaning hedgehog sheds and floors
- • Working at and assisting with off-site fosters and other special events
More experienced volunteers may be able to clean the nursery cages, which require special care, and assist with syringe feeding of orphan hoglets.
While this may seem like a fantastic thing to do, the reality is cleaning out soiled bedding and handling injured and ill animals. While having a love for wildlife, you will need to be practical and objective as we cannot cuddle these animals, that would cause immense stress for them, they are wild and have to remain so. So while caring you have to be able to carry out the work in an efficient manner with the least stress to the animal.
We clean everything out daily. Cleanliness is paramount to avoid spreading illness and even if it wasn’t, the smell from one cage not cleaned for 24 hours is unbelievable. We have A LOT of cages… and no gas masks.
Other tasks include; cleaning the hospital area, disinfecting work surfaces, restocking food and assisting with the gentle restraint of hedgehogs while medication is given. There is no lone working and at all times you will be assisting Staff and/or other volunteers.
You will be trained in the required tasks and expected to adhere to the rescue units risk assessments and protocols.
If you would like to become a volunteer with us, please download the application form below and return the completed form to us.
7 responses
Sorry. I’ve just left comment on Facebook. I would love to come and help you.
Hi Jim/Tracy,
I can help out for a day next week.
I’m already a fosterer/over winterer, so won’t take much training into your way of doing things. I’ve already dropped 2 hogs to you this week.
Sorry I can’t commit to regular slots as I work full time.
Sharon
Hi
I am very impressed with your comprehensive volunteer handbook.
My daughter is 15 and very interested in wildlife. I would like us both to volunteer together. I noticed that your policy is that volunteers have to be over 18 years old. Is it possible to make any exceptions to this if we come as a team? We live in Upton and would love to volunteer with this local and very worth while charity.
Hi Carolyn, I will have to speak to our insurance company, as it is on our insurance policy.
Kind Regards,
Jim
Hi I have sent you an enquiry and message on messenger regarding becoming a foster carer for you
Hi, All the information about becoming a fosterer are at https://hamworthyhedgehogrescue.org.uk/?page_id=3426 including the application form.
We usually only need foster carers over winter, from around the end of October/November.
If you download and complete the application, and return it to us, we will add you yo the list of foster carers.
Kind Regards, Jim
maureenallen81@yahoo.co.uk I
would love to help as adore hedgehogs