Hedgehog wedged in drain survives ordeal

A large 900g male hedgehog had a lucky escape after he was rescued from an uncovered drain outside a home.

The resident of the Cambridge property tried to free him with a towel for some time but eventually phoned an animal charity to ask for help.

The spikey creature was rescued and is now doing well at a hedgehog rescue centre.

Heather's Hedgehog Hostel, in Chatteris, said people should make sure drains have sufficient coverings.

Sarah Long, 27 who lives in Barnwell, North Cambridge, got a surprise when she went to get her bike for her daily commute.

She saw what she thought was a large hedgehog wedged into her kitchen drain outside her home.

"I tried for about 20 minutes to pull him out using a towel - he was moving but didn't make a sound," she said.

"Me and my housemate were freaking out trying to release him, but he wouldn't shift.

"I didn't want to stress him out too much, so I phoned a local animal rescue centre and they were tied up and sent a message out to a hedgehog hospital in Fenland who said they would quickly come out."

Ms Long said she had not seen any other hedgehogs for years in her area and was really surprised to find one stuck down a drain.

"I had to go off to work and was worried about him all morning until I got a call at around 10:00 BST to say he was safe - I was very happy," she added.

"My landlord has put a chunky piece of wood over the drain hole now to stop it happening again and a new cover is coming soon".

A spokesperson for Heather's Hedgehog Hostel in Chatteris said: "We were asked if we could rescue a hedgehog trapped in a drain in Cambridge. One of my volunteers, Helen White, was able to assist.

"She managed to wriggle him out with some difficulty as he was wedged in. It was so tight he has lost some of the spines on his head."

They added: "We have called him "Drainy" and he was 968g. We have given him fluids as he was dehydrated, a faecal test has shown a roundworm problem which we are now treating.

"We would stress and ask that people are mindful that drains are properly covered as many hedgehogs drown when stuck in them."

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