A hedgehog rescue centre in the Bradford district has warned the species could disappear from the British countryside altogether.
Hedgehog Emergency Rescue Bingley in Eldwick has cared for around 4,000 hedgehogs over the past 11 years.
The centre says it is facing record demand due to facility closures, drought conditions, and the approach of Bonfire Night.
Hedgehog (Image: Stephanie Knowles)
Hedgehogs (Image: Stephanie Knowles)
'71 per cent reduction in rural hedgehogs'
Stephanie Knowles, founder of the rescue, said: "They're on the red list for endangered species.
"So they're vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain.
"There’s been a 71 per cent reduction in rural hedgehogs between 1981 and 2023, and a 30 per cent reduction overall in the past 10 years.
"It will get to a point where you basically just don’t see hedgehogs."
The rescue operates from an outbuilding at Ms Knowles’ home and is run by just three volunteers.
Despite its small size, the centre can care for up to 80 hedgehogs at a time and is usually at full capacity year-round.
Inside the rescue centre (Image: Stephanie Knowles)
Ms Knowles said: "We started 11 years ago.
"We’re full almost the whole year."
'Horrific' past year
She said this year has been especially challenging, with drought conditions leading to a surge in admissions.
Ms Knowles said: "This past year has been horrific with the drought and the weather being as it’s been.
"It’s just awful.
"An enormous influx in cases, especially pregnant mums and babies because there just wasn’t enough water to sustain a healthy pregnancy.
"We were ending up with more mums and babies than we’ve ever had.
She stressed that the problem is occurring nationwide.
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The charity costs around £1,500 a month to run during the autumn, with expenses including medication, food, heating, heat pads, and incubators.
Hedgehog (Image: Stephanie Knowles)
Fundraiser launched for larger facility
The organisation has launched a GoFundMe appeal to help fund a much larger rescue facility.
Ms Knowles said the closure of other rescues in the area has increased pressure on the centre, which is now turning away animals due to lack of space.
She said: "What we’re hoping to do is set up a large-scale rescue.
"Because of the reduced capacity elsewhere, we need to make a bigger rescue."
The long-term goal is to create a dedicated centre capable of caring for 400 to 500 hedgehogs, with space for education and public awareness programmes.
Hedgehogs (Image: Stephanie Knowles)
Bonfire Night appeal
With Bonfire Night approaching, Ms Knowles is urging the public to check bonfire piles for hedgehogs before lighting them.
She urged people to "stack it, shift it, shape it" by building their bonfire pile in advance, moving it on the day of the event and then rebuilding it before lighting it to avoid harming wildlife.
She said the rescue has treated hedgehogs with severe burns and would support a ban on loud fireworks due to the distress they cause wildlife.
More than £390 has been raised so far through the centre’s GoFundMe.