FIVE orphaned baby hedgehogs have been adopted by a Co Galway family.
The hedgehogs, which are believed to be about a month old, have been taken into care by Galway landscape gardener Noel Thomas at his home in Moycullen.
The animals were found abandoned and in need of care in Oughterard wood, having apparently lost their mother.
Mr Thomas took them home and provided shelter for them in his garden shed, with the assistance of his four children Ciara (10), Emma (8), and twins Noel and Cian (7).
He said that the kids were “really enjoying” the new additions to the family.
Mr Thomas is using a heat lamp to provide warmth, and the animals are being fed lamb’s colostrum, which is normally given to young lambs in springtime.
Mr Thomas said that this was on the advice of a vet and pharmacist, as the hedgehogs cannot tolerate lactose found in milk. He has also been using a syringe to feed vitamin supplements.
The baby hedgehogs appeared to be recovering well, he said yesterday.
