Hedgehogs: Nature’s unexplained survivors

Readers who have happened across the plight of George, the roly-poly hedgehog, may wonder what disease that the sanctuary carers believed he had. Hedgehogs are strange creatures, so ill-adapted to the modern world and in need of support that they probably appear quite high up on evolution’s hit list – they are subject to a bizarre condition known as ‘balloon syndrome‘, where air becomes trapped beneath the hog’s skin, swelling it to an abnormal size and restricting its ability to eat. A sufferer dubbed ‘Michelin’ was discovered earlier this year, and the treatment is disarmingly simple: deflation.

As our planet spins toward more wintery climes, any British readers interested in caring for the troubled creatures should read this advice.