Charity rescues baby hedgehog with plastic ring from bottle embedded in its neck

A hedgehog was found with a plastic ring embedded in its neck
Blyth Widlife Rescue
April Roach @aprilroach2822 October 2020

A six-week-old hedgehog was found by a charity with a plastic ring from a bottle embedded in its neck.

Blyth Wildlife Rescue said the hedgehog's wound was infested with maggots and that it was becoming deeper as the hedgehog was growing.

The animal was found in Bedlington, Northumberland on Sunday.

Blyth Wildlife Rescue shared the graphic pictures of the animal's injury on its Facebook to show how "human carelessness" causes common wildlife injuries.

The hedgehog was found on Sunday with a constriction wound
Blyth Widlife Rescue

"From constriction wounds, entanglements, hooks down the throats of swans and gulls, fishing line and netting related injuries, we have seen it all and more," said the charity.

"Hopefully we got to this little hog in time but for many others, they weren't so fortunate."

The charity's vets treated the injured animal under anaesthetic and removed the ring.

"We immediately removed the plastic, medicated the hedgehog and cleaned the wound, removing maggots and fly eggs, dirt and debris," it said.

It later added that the hedgehog was in a stable condition and was "surprisingly active".

The charity urged people to pick up their litter and reduce waste to protect wildlife.

"Look after our home," it said. "There's no Planet B."

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