Ellesmere hedgehog rescue ends after firefighters crack concrete
Firefighters in England broke through concrete to free a hedgehog stuck in a drain, then handed it to Cuan Wildlife Rescue.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
2 min read
The Ellesmere hedgehog rescue began as a small-animal call and quickly turned into a concrete-breaking job for firefighters in England.
Ellesmere Fire Station said on Facebook that its crew was sent out at 7:10 p.m. Friday for what was logged as a “small animal rescue.” The animal in trouble, according to the station, was a hedgehog trapped in a drain.
Cuan Wildlife Rescue was also at the scene, the fire station said. The wildlife group was there as crews worked to reach the animal and later took custody of it.
How did firefighters rescue the hedgehog?
According to Ellesmere Fire Station, crews used small tools to break through concrete and open up access to the drain. The station described the work as exposing the drain by digging a hole.
Once firefighters had created enough access, they freed the hedgehog from the drain, the station said. The animal was then placed into the care of Cuan Wildlife Rescue.
UPI reported Tuesday that the rescue happened in England and cited the fire station’s social media account. The station’s post called the trapped animal a “wee hedgehog,” a tiny casualty in a job that still required careful tools and a bit of hard graft.
The fire station’s account did not give further details about how the hedgehog became stuck or where exactly the drain was located. It also did not say how long the animal had been trapped before the call came in.
Who helped with the rescue?
The response involved Ellesmere Fire Station and Cuan Wildlife Rescue, according to the fire station’s Facebook post. Firefighters handled the concrete and drain access, while the wildlife rescue organization took over care of the hedgehog after it was freed.
In this case, a “small animal rescue” meant a fire crew being called to help an animal that could not get out on its own. The station’s post shows that even a small animal can require specialist help when concrete and underground spaces are involved.
The fire station shared the incident on social media with photos from the rescue. UPI later reported the story under its Odd News coverage.
No additional information about the hedgehog’s condition after being handed to Cuan Wildlife Rescue was included in the fire station’s post or UPI’s report.
This story draws on original reporting from UPI.