In message , K
writes
Martin Brown writes
I wonder if anyone can shed some light on the malaises that afflict
young hedgehogs?

A young one has apparently expired in the middle of an open area of
concrete near a path I walk regularly. Although it looks superficially
undamaged there are some strange organic growths on it about 5mm
diameter translucent grey and longer than the spines poking out here
and there. Leeches or some other nasty parasites maybe?

Those sound like ticks in colour, if it wasn't for the length (ticks
resemble sweetcorn grains in size and shape). Leeches tend to be
various browns and blacks and dark greens.

Yes, they sound like ticks. They get bigger as they fill up with blood,
5mm is about the size of a full one. Hedgehogs normally have lots of
them in various sizes depending how long they've been feeding. It's
unlikely they killed it, but an unhealthy animal often has more than its
fair share of parasites.


Sitting out in daylight is sign of sickness in hedgehogs, it's abnormal
behaviour. Often if you take one to a 'hedgehog hospital' you find it
has expired a few days later with respiratory disease.

Are those hedgehogs unfit to eat then?

--
Sue ];(