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Spot a hedgehog with a tag? Call the RSPCA

Brian Farmer
Monday 25 April 2005 00:00 BST
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RSPCA officials have launched a hedgehog monitoring project to learn more about how they live. Staff at an RSPCA wildlife centre at East Winch, Norfolk, are releasing rescued hedgehogs into the wild with numbered markers glued to their spines.

RSPCA officials have launched a hedgehog monitoring project to learn more about how they live. Staff at an RSPCA wildlife centre at East Winch, Norfolk, are releasing rescued hedgehogs into the wild with numbered markers glued to their spines.

They want people let them know when and where they spot a tagged hedgehog. "The centre takes in an average of 600 hedgehogs a year and releases them after they've been treated and rehabilitated," a spokeswoman said.

"It is vital that East Winch Wildlife Centre find out whether these hedgehogs can survive in the wild and how they learn to fend for themselves after time in the centre.

"We are asking anyone who sees a hog with a tag to write into the centre giving their name, address, date, telephone number, the place where they saw the animal and all the information on the tag.

"Staff can then monitor how effective the rerelease programme is and make sure that hedgehogs have the ability to look after themselves in the wild."

Officials stress that hedgehogs suffered no harm when tags are fitted.

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