A small hedgehog found stranded in the heat with a broken leg is getting a second chance after the Wildlife Aid Foundation, a U.K.-based animal rescue organization, stepped in.
The rescue organization shared how quickly a single injury can become life-threatening for a wild animal when it's brutally hot outside.
Here's what to know
Rescuers with WAF shared on Instagram how serious the hedgehog's condition was when it was found.
The group wrote that this hedgehog "was unable to walk… he was suffering from a broken leg, which left him stranded in the sun. Found motionless, alone, and about ready to give up, his injuries looked so severe that this little guy was rushed to WAF for help."
Because the animal could not move, staff moved quickly to provide life-saving care. They first gave fluids, then used X-rays to examine what appeared to be a fracture in the left hind leg, before confirming its tibia was broken.
WAF later wrote that, "he's got a long walk (or limp) ahead of him before he's ready for release, but he'll be receiving round-the-clock care until his leg has healed and he's strong enough to take on the wild again!"
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The Instagram update also showed the adorable hedgehog during and after his emergency care.
More background
When an animal is immobilized during hot weather, it may be unable to reach shade, water, or shelter before dehydration sets in.
Hedgehogs already face a range of dangers in human-dominated landscapes, from traffic and habitat loss to garden hazards and injuries that can leave them exposed. A broken leg may sound survivable, but for a wild animal that relies on constant movement to forage and avoid danger, it can quickly become fatal.
Unfortunately, wild animals in distress do not always show obvious movement or make noise. Sometimes the warning sign is simply an animal lying still in an exposed place when it should be active or hidden.
If you ever encounter an animal that you believe is in immediate danger, it's best to contact a wildlife expert or animal control official rather than trying to handle it directly yourself.
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