Hedgehog rescue

[caziques]

Just to set the scene (here in NZ)...

I arrived home about 5.30 after a day of finding builders had managed to drill holes in heating pipes installed in a concrete floor (I supply and install underfloor heating), so mighty pissed off.

Another stinking hot day, and as usual I plugged the van in (eNV200) at the electric metre with cheap night rate power at the entry to our drive, (about £1 for 60 miles) before walking up to the house (100 metres).

As I walked passed the swimming pool (fully intending to dive in PDQ), I spied a hedgehog paddling around - as I scooped him (?) out, the poor thing had bubbles coming out of his nose, I reckon another 30 seconds and he would have been a gonner. The first hedgehog in 15 years in the pool, and I walk past at exactly the right time.

Should i call him Lucky or Mark Spitz?

Mark is now recuperating in a dog crate, all curled up - my good deed for the day.

[Google [bot]]

Good ol’ lad

[randlemarcus]

Though the UK hedgehog rescuers might object to collecting from NZ

Wet cat food, NOT milk, and release as soon as possible. To deflea, pop in a bucket of water, (and retrieve before bubbles stop, obviously)

[PistonBroker]

It was only yesterday - thanks to the lovely Ellie on Countryfile - that I discovered hedgehogs can swim. It had never occurred to me that they would be able to.

Though it doesn't sound like Lucky was that handy at it! Good work OP.

[Equus]

I thought they were regarded as evil, introduced pests in NZ -they eat the eggs of ground-nesting native birds, including the Kiwi, don't they?

They're very tasty, baked gypsy style, in clay.