In West Yorkshire, England, a homeowner recently checked their wildlife camera and noticed something strange. A hedgehog had been appearing in the footage, but the animal looked completely covered in what seemed to be mud. The thick coating made it hard for him to move normally.
For about a week, the worried homeowner kept watching the camera before finally managing to catch the struggling hedgehog. Because the footage had been black and white, they were shocked when they saw him in daylight.
He wasn’t covered in mud at all — he was bright green.
The hedgehog was taken to Shelley Hedgehogs, a local rescue run by Mel Fitton. When Fitton saw him, she could hardly believe it. The poor animal was coated in hard mint green paint.
Even more surprising, Fitton recognized him.
The hedgehog, named Daffy, had been microchipped, so the rescue knew exactly who he was. He had been in their care the previous year, spent the winter hibernating safely and had only been released back into the wild about a month earlier.
Somehow, in just a few weeks, Daffy had managed to get himself into serious trouble. By the time he was rescued again, the paint had dried so hard that his spines were stuck together all the way down to his skin. His belly, face and legs were also covered.
The paint was more than just messy — it was dangerous. Hedgehogs rely on curling into a tight ball to protect themselves from predators, but Daffy’s hardened spines made that difficult. If he had stayed in the wild like that, he would have been vulnerable.
Fitton and the veterinary team began the careful job of removing the paint. They avoided using harsh chemicals, so the process had to be slow and gentle. Some of the paint had sunk deep into his spines and reached his skin, making it especially difficult to clean.
Eventually, Daffy had to be sedated so the team could safely shave the paint from his belly. It was the kindest option, and his soft fur is expected to grow back quickly.
Throughout the rescue and cleaning process, Daffy remained calm and patient. Fitton believes he probably wasn’t painted on purpose. More likely, he wandered into a tray of paint that had been left outside and then couldn’t clean himself off.
Once Daffy’s fur grows back and vets confirm he is healthy, he will be released back into the same garden where he was found. The area is a good home for hedgehogs, and everyone hopes he stays safe there — and avoids any more paint-filled adventures.