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Hedgehog Fosterers are volunteers who help to 'over-winter' late born and underweight hedgehogs, until the weather is warm and settled in the spring, when the hedgehogs are released into the wild and the fosterer waves a fond farewell.

Popularity
There are many wildlife rescue centres in the UK looking for volunteer fosterers. Most of who will give the necessary instruction.

Age
There is normally an age restriction on who can become a foster volunteer, as a wild animals welfare is at stake, this is normally sixteen years of age. Younger children can take part, as long as an adult is the prime carer.

Ability
It is essential for all potential fosterers to attend a training session, before starting fostering. The sessions involve instruction on equipment needed, how to care for the hedgehogs and problems to look out for.

Description
Hog Fostering is just a case of cleaning them every day, feeding them, giving them access to water and keeping them at a constant temperature of between 15C and 18C.

If you can find any, they like worms, beetles and slugs, because that's their main diet. Failing this cat or dog food is fine for them, but it must be meat-based as hedgehogs would not naturally find fish in the wild.
You can also buy an insectivore mix.

Dedication
The successful outcome of over-wintering young hedgehogs is largely down to the dedication and hard work of the fosterers.

Potential
The reward gained from Hedgehog fostering is the satisfaction and happyness in the knowledge that one more hedgehog has survived thanks to you!

Closely Related Activities
Keeping a Pet 888, Breeding Animals 87, Conserving Rare Breeds of Animals (the R.B.S.T) 88, Saving a species 313.

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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