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In Fife, a hedgehog recently endured a harrowing ordeal, spending at least four days trapped inside a rusty underground drain pipe near Markinch town hall. Rescuers from Burntisland Hedgehog Haven initially attempted to free the animal but were unsuccessful. When they first arrived, they found the hedgehog curled tightly and motionless deep within the pipe, leading them to fear it had not survived.
The following day, however, council workers noticed movement and spotted the hedgehog’s face looking up inside the pipe. They called the rescue team back, who returned better equipped with tools. Andy Longhurst, who co-founded Burntisland Hedgehog Haven with his wife Wendy, described their initial efforts: “When we arrived it was face-down in a ball. We tried for 30 minutes to free it but the spikes weren’t moving and we suspected the worst.” After some trial and error, they applied vegetable oil to lubricate the sides of the drain pipe, which enabled them to finally pull the hedgehog free.
Upon closer examination, the rescuers realized the animal was not a juvenile, as they’d first assumed, but an adult male weighing nearly one kilogram (982g). Andy noted the hedgehog’s poor condition, stating, “When I brought him up to the surface I realised it was actually a big adult hog – and my goodness did he smell bad.” Covered in 37 ticks, the hedgehog required cleaning and medical attention but appeared otherwise unharmed. After a warm bath, nourishment, and rest, the animal was reported to be active and running around in the rescue center.
Burntisland Hedgehog Haven was established three years ago by Andy and Wendy Longhurst upon discovering a lack of similar services in their region. Their charitable work is now supported by around 40 volunteers, dubbed “hog ambulance drivers,” who assist by collecting hedgehogs in need from across Fife, Edinburgh, the Lothians, and even the Borders. The rescued hedgehog remains under observation for any post-restriction injuries, which may manifest up to a week after release
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