Shopworker's shock at finding hedgehog at Sainsbury's Longbridge - The Bromsgrove Standard

Shopworker's shock at finding hedgehog at Sainsbury's Longbridge

Bromsgrove Editorial 22nd May, 2019   0

AN EMPLOYEE at Sainsbury’s Longbridge was shocked to find a very prickly shopper on Sunday morning when she discovered a hedgehog by the entrance to the store.

Liza Fowler found the hog, who has since been named Sally, around 8.30am – a time the nocturnal creatures should not really be out and about.

She said: “It was one of those surreal moments when no-one else was around.

“I knew she shouldn’t have been out so went back into the store to get a box to put her in and then took her home.”




Liza phoned around her friends to ask them what to do and one suggested getting in touch with Willows Hedgehog Rescue.


Jayne Lawrence from Willows collected Sally who had a head injury, a bloody nose and had lost a few spikes.

Liza added: “Looking back it was a really lovely moment and when I took her home my daughter was fascinated – she had never been that close to a hedgehog before.

“It’s been a strange couple of weeks because I do pottery classes and had made a hedgehog just the other week.

“Then on another day I came out of my house one morning and there was a hedgehog curled up in a ball fast asleep on my path.”

Jayne said she thought Sally probably came from the nearby railway embankment but added with car parks and the A38 dual carriageway nearby it was a miracle she was not injured more severely.

Thankfully ‘Sally from Sainsbury’s’ is now on the mend.

Spring warning

With spring upon us Jayne has urged gardeners to check their plots for hedgehogs before starting work as they could inadvertently injure the animals with strimmers or mowers if they do not notice them in long grass and hedgerows.

Netting poses another trap for hedgehogs as they could get caught up in it.

For fruit and veg netting people can put a solid barrier on it to stop the hogs walking onto it whereas sports nets can be tied up when not in use.

Jayne added: “We are also getting more and more dog attacks in, a few simple rules could save a life.

“If you know you have visiting hedgehogs, take your dog out on a lead for the last night time walks, if you know your dog attacks them, get it to wear a muzzle for the last walk,could save life and expensive vet bills to your pet.”

She also reiterated a previous warning that hedgehogs are nocturnal so if they are seen in daylight hardly moving, they should be placed in a box and people should call the ‘Hog Hotline’ on 07518 354408.

If they are milling around, they could be nesting mums and people should just watch from a distance to check they are OK.

Three-day old hoglets. s

If people disturb a nest they should cover it back up as quickly as they can and move away so they do not disturb it again.

If the nest is destroyed, people should pick up the mum then the hoglets, place them in a box and call Willows for help.

Washing machine appeal

Willows is also in need of a new washing machine as their current one has been overstretched with all the washing Jayne and co-owner Charlie do for the hedgehogs.

Anyone who can help with that shoud visit willowshedgehog.co.uk or email [email protected] – the centre is always looking for people over 18 interested in volunteering to help look after the prickly creatures.

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