April 2008

04/04/08

Bull seal spotted at NCC all week by "R.F"

06/04/08 Hedgehog Update

Octo - ready for pre-release. (Male) ( Pre Release Weight - 1265gms)

Don - ready for pre-release. (Male) (Pre Release Weight - 1540gms)

Both given the "Ok" from local vets and St Tiggywinkles re weights. Both given pre release doses of panomec (Sub Cutaneous) and Imaverol. Both in outside enclosures with their own boxes and supplementary food and water for 2 weeks before the gates are opened allowing them total freedom back into their natural habitat.

Photos - Copyright Elaine Roft

20/04/08

6 Little hoglets
To my garden door were led
It was September 2007
And mum was hibernating under the shed.

Each Little one was gathered up
And promptly taken inside
Placed in separate boxes
With a bed in which to hide

Bottle feeding commenced
Until on their own they could eat
Then tasty treats of biscuits
was followed by canned dog meat

Each day they all grew stronger
Except for "Ziggy" who died
He was buried in the garden
My heart heavy - oh how I cried

6 months have now past since they were rescued
And Spring she has now awoken
To say "Farewell" to my babies
Has left me a little heartbroken

A deciduous wood I found
Out in the Countryside
For perfect release back into the wild
With lots of places to hide

So today each hoggie was taken
To this haven that I had found
Together they were placed in a huge nest of leaves
With fresh water and food on the ground

Farewell my little "Spike" family
Stay well and stay alive
May god look down upon you all
And help you all to thrive

And now I walk away
Tears streaming down my face
For deep within my heart
You all have a special place

Fond memories I have of you all
And in my heart you will stay
You touched the very soul of me
In your own prickly hedgehog way

If I should die tomorrow
I know that my life has been blessed
My family and rescuing animals
Its quite simply - what I do best

Octo, Don, Spike, Dusky, Trail xx

 Elaine Burns-Roft

Release site

Hidden, click on thumbnail, right, for large version of released hoggies.

Pictures copyright Elaine Roft.

21/04/08
I went back to the release site tonight and came away a happy bunny 5 indentations where the hogs had surfaced from their nest - all food I had supplied was left untouched but some of the water had gone.

The hogs have obviously started foraging for food and decided to relish on the abundance of slugs around instead of the food supplied from the 5 star hotel

Elaine Roft