A HEDGEHOG rescue centre in Newquay has seen a dramatic rise in the number of admissions it is receiving - with the recent extreme summer temperatures being seen as the main contributing factor.

It has been a busy year already for Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue, with the team reporting a 57 per cent year-on-year surge in hedgehog admissions.

Between January and the end of July 2026 the rescue admitted 728 hedgehogs, with numbers particularly high during July, which saw a record-breaking 253 admissions compared with 161 in July 2025. The Cornish rescue centre has so far reached a maximum of 151 hedgehogs on site at one time.

However, it isn’t all bad news - despite the unprecedented number of admissions, the team has also achieved a record number of releases, with 104 hedgehogs returned to the wild during July alone.

They say the prolonged period of hot weather being experience in the UK has presented additional challenges for hedgehogs, which can struggle to find sufficient food and water when conditions are exceptionally dry.

Charity co-founder and rescue director Katy South said: “The never-ending heatwave has meant that for all wildlife food and water has become scarcer and scarcer; not only are we seeing a rise in dehydrated and underweight hedgehogs coming into the rescue, we are also seeing an alarming number of abandoned baby hedgehogs (hoglets).

“Our team suspect this is linked with the dry weather and mothers unable to cope and raise their young through to weaning.”

The rescue is urging people across the UK to continue looking out for hedgehogs, particularly during periods of extreme weather. Anyone who finds a hedgehog that appears injured, weak, lethargic, out during the day and showing signs of distress, or otherwise in need of help, should contact their local wildlife rescue for advice rather than attempting to care for it themselves.