A WOMAN based near Camelford is urging people to contact her if they come across a small wild animal in need over autumn and winter.

Nikki Rule-Jackson runs the Littlest Wildlife Hotel at Treglasta, near the Wilsey Down pub in Hallworthy, and is currently taking in hedgehogs, but is also willing to take any wildlife that might need some help.

Nikki is urging local people in the Camelford area to contact her if they come across any wildlife in need, after news that a local hedgehog had been taken all the way to Bude as the person who found it did not know about the Littlest Wildlife Hotel.

Having been interested in nature since childhood, Nikki says her ‘doors have always been open to rescuing any animal that needs our help’. Her first job was working as a receptionist at a veterinary practice, and quite often something would come home with her to be looked after.

“I was very good at handing over babies needing two hourly feeding to my mum who would religiously care for them. I believe this is where I learned to respect all animals and that all animals deserve a chance at life, and if I am able to help provide them with that then I will try my best.”

Nikki has been rescuing African pygmy hedgehogs for two years and is part of the administration team for the National Exotic Hedgehog Rescue. Over the spring of this year, she was handed four, two-day-old rabbit kitts and embarked on hand-rearing them. All four made it to release and subsequently one of the females has had her own litter and brings the kitts back to Nikki’s farm.

She said: “It’s lovely to see, and to be thought of as their safe space. After this I decided to become more public with my rescuing ability and have subsequently had a number of hedgehogs who I’ve managed to build up to the correct weight for release.”

But now Nikki is encouraging people to spread the word about the Littlest Wildlife Hotel, and contact her if an animal needs assistance.

She said: “Over the autumn I’ve been aware of lots of small hoglets who have been in need of a rescue space. I have taken some in and have been shocked at how small they are. These late babies are sadly not going to survive a hibernation so badly need human intervention and brought in to rescue to be given specialist attention, even some of the larger hedgehogs may need to come in to be overwintered in a sheltered area where food can be provided.

“Obviously if anyone finds a hedgehog who is injured they will need a rescue space regardless of their size.

“A rescue can assess them as to whether veterinary intervention is needed. Some of the hoglets have been found in very poor condition and have had heavy parasitic burdens which combined with their low weight led to their untimely death.”

Nikki currently has two residents in the hotel, both are wild European hedgehogs.

Kevin has been in the hotel for three weeks. He arrived a very small hedgehog, under 200g with suspected ringworm. He is now over 300g, his ringworm is being treated and he is ‘looking a lot better’, according to Nikki.

The other resident is LJ (Lucky Juan). He was fractionally over 200g when he was brought in.

Nikki said: “Since being given his keys he has caused all sorts of issues and worry by having a prolapse of the colon. However, he’s now looking like nothing ever happened and is eating well — phew!”

If anyone in the Camelford and surrounding area comes across a hedgehog or other small wild animal in difficulty, Nikki can be contacted on 07481 801 447. The Littlest Wildlife Hotel can also be found on Facebook, ‘Littlest Wildlife Hotel — Cornwall’.