Residents are being urged to check their gardens carefully for wildlife before mowing or strimming, after a hedgehog was found with a life-threatening wound caused by a mower or a strimmer.

Ross Gazette General Manager, Charlotte Reynolds, who is also one of the volunteers who runs Ross-on-Wye Hedgehog Care and Advice, first saw the injured hedgehog on a wildlife camera in her garden. Seeing the wound, she was determined to catch the hedgehog and help treat it.

The injured hedgehog was caught on the night of Saturday, May 18th.

Charlotte said: “The hedgehog was treated at Chaseview Vets and I am pleased to report it survived the night. The horrendous injury was caused by a mower or strimmer. I wish to appeal to everyone to please check your grass before mowing or strimming, as hedgehogs sleep in long grass or under bushes during the day.”

The hedgehog will be rehabilitated to help regain strength, and if all goes well, it will be re-released back into the wild.

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