FIVE spiky friends have been brought into a Kendal vets after suffering from the cold weather.
The young hedgehogs were born too late in the year to be able to hibernate before the freezing temperatures hit – forcing kind-hearted residents to bring them in to Highgate Vets.
Hedgehogs need to be between 600 and 800 grams to be able to hibernate in winter and young adult hedgehogs sometimes are too hungry to do so.
Kimberley Dent, a veterinary assistant at Highgate Vets, said: “If you see a hedgehog during the day at this time of year it is a sure sign of them being unwell or injured.
“If you find one please bring it to us or any other vets so that they can be checked over.
“The five we have had brought in so far are now being rehabilitated so that they can gain enough weight to build a nest and hibernate.”
Hegehogs are an endangered species in the UK and generally hibernate from November to March.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here