“The size was unbelievable.”
David Grant was out collecting golf balls with his young son and a neighbor when he spotted something unusual on the ground — a small, spiky ball tangled in a barbed wire fence.
It was a hedgehog.
When his wife Lucy arrived to help, she made another discovery:
👉 A second hedgehog curled up nearby.
Seeing hedgehogs during the day is rare, which meant something was wrong — they had likely been stuck overnight.
✂️ A Careful Rescue
Following advice from Lowton Hedgehog Rescue, the Grants:
- Carefully cut the hedgehogs free
- Wrapped them in towels
- Drove them straight to the rescue center
Quick thinking made all the difference.
🩹 Two Very Different Outcomes
At the rescue:
- 🦔 One hedgehog had only a minor wound and was treated and released the same night
- 🦔 The other, later named Prong, was seriously injured
Barbed wire had pierced both sides of his body, leaving him unable to move.
❤️ On The Road To Recovery
Rescuer Irene Thomson:
- Removed embedded wire
- Cleaned and treated the wounds
- Started antibiotics and pain relief
Prong will stay in care for at least a week, with additional checks for parasites caused by stress.
The good news?
👉 His wounds are already healing well.
🌍 Why This Matters
Hedgehogs in the UK are now considered near-threatened, with populations declining in recent years.
They play an important role in ecosystems by:
- Controlling pests
- Supporting healthy soil
Stories like this highlight how small human actions — even everyday structures like fences — can impact wildlife.
🛠️ A Community Steps Up
After the rescue, local residents shared the story online, and the nearby golf club is now reviewing the fence to prevent future injuries.
🐾 A Small Life, Big Impact
Because one family stopped, looked closer, and chose to help:
- One hedgehog is already back in the wild
- Another is healing and getting a second chance
Sometimes, saving a life starts with simply noticing something that doesn’t belong.