No water, hardly any food: hedgehog babies urgently need support at the moment

"Hedgehog mom" Ulrike Kolar from Moosburg is currently in demand around the clock: Many hedgehog babies need help.

And the animal lover also urgently needs help with her work.

Moosburg

– It's high season for "Hedgehog Mama" Ulrike Kolar from Moosburg: She is currently taking care of numerous emaciated, dehydrated or injured hedgehog babies.

But with her commitment, the animal lover reaches her limits.

That's why she raises the alarm and calls on citizens to provide first aid when the little prickly fellows are lying limp or injured in gardens or under bushes.

Sextuplets are nurtured

A few days ago, Ulrike Kolar received newcomers: six newcomers, just a few hours old.

The baby hedgehog's mother was seen limping shortly after birth, but has since disappeared.

Now the woman from Moosburg is raising the little hedgehogs, which weigh just 21 grams and are about 7.5 centimeters long.

With the help of a disposable syringe, she administers rearing milk for baby cats to the small prickly balls - every drop of milk counts.

After initially 0.3 and later 0.9 milliliters of milk, the hunger is satisfied - it is the next animal's turn.

A lot of time is spent feeding.

But there are still more patients waiting.

Because Ulrike Kolar also takes care of some intensive care patients - those animals that have lung problems or are weak and infested with worms and flies.

"If you don't help them, they die"

Ulrike Kolar usually has between 25 and 45 hedgehogs in her care – formerly mainly in the fall, but now she has to work with the animals all year round.

The cases of injured hedgehogs are currently increasing.

The reason is often wounds caused by lawn mowers - above all by lawn mower robots.

"These don't stop at soft obstacles," the animal lover knows, which is why she has some patients who are missing legs.

For some there is no rescue, others have to endure complex and expensive treatment.

"A lot of money goes into it," says Ulrike Kolar.

But the small animals are worth the many expenses.

By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.

Water, shelter and food needed

The hedgehogs are also affected by the current weather conditions: "It's damn dry," says the Moosburger.

"The hedgehogs can't find any water and hardly any food." Their urgent appeal is therefore aimed at the citizens, above all at the garden owners: "The animals urgently need water" - and a shady place, i.e. accommodation "where they can go in at any time “.

You should also support the animals with food: dry food should be offered.

With “shade, always fresh water and food, the hedgehogs are well taken care of”, Kolar knows from many years of experience.

Anyone who finds a hedgehog in need of help should also check the animal for ticks and fleas - and if necessary, consult a veterinarian.

Many people are not aware that helping hedgehogs is just as important in (high) summer as in autumn or winter.

"It's not malicious or stupid on the part of the people - they just don't think about it," says Ulrike Kolar.

It is all the more important to her to raise people's awareness and encourage them to "take on first aid".

She herself is of course happy to offer advice, but she needs support when looking after the animals.

Because: "There are always more" - more animals that are given to her or simply placed in front of the front door.

Donations of money and food make the work easier

Working with the many hedgehogs is not only a nursing challenge, but also a financial one for Ulrike Kolar: treatment costs, expenses for medication and aids, food and much more she pays out of her own pocket.

"If I stop working, I don't know how it's going to work," she says.

She is all the happier when she receives financial support or food donations from private individuals, schools or companies.

"That helps a lot."

As much work as she has with the animals, the little prickly fellows give her just as much joy - such as her sextuplets, which are developing splendidly.

The soft pink skin on the face has become darker and tiny hairs are sprouting on the snout.

"So far everyone is healthy, fun and lively," says Kolar.

And hopefully they will be strong enough to survive the coming winter - the next challenge for the dedicated "hedgehog mom".

Here's support

Anyone who needs support in caring for hedgehogs or would like to feed an animal themselves can contact Ulrike Kolar: by telephone on (0 87 61) 6 03 65 (please leave a message on the answering machine) or by e-mail to igel_nothilfe_moos-burg@gmx.de .More information is also available on the website of the Freising Animal Welfare Association at www.tierschutzverein-freising.de.

You can find more current news from the district of Freising at Merkur.de/Freising.