A hedgehog in Scotland that was rescued last year has almost fully recovered from an infection that left him almost completely bald.

The cute creature, who was affectionately named Ratty, was discovered in Perth and Kinross in Scotland and taken to a nearby rescue centre in November.

When he was rushed into the Scottish SPCA national wildlife rescue centre in Fishcross, Ratty weighed a third of what he was expected to weight, at just 324g, and was missing his fur and spines because of a ringworm infection.

After being treated at the centre and going through months of care and recovery, he is now tipping the scales at 940g.

Not only that, but his fur and spines have grown back and he can now be released back into the wild, just in time for Sunday’s Hedgehog Day.

Hedgehog Day coincides with Groundhog Day in the US – an event that tries to predict the weather conditions by using the movements of a groundhog in Pennsylvania.

Claire Powell, a wildlife assistant at the centre Ratty was taken to, said: “We’re delighted with the progress Ratty has made during his time with us.

“He spent some time in a room in the centre to build body condition then for the past two weeks he has been outside in an aviary going from strength to strength while we waited for more spines to grow in.

“It’s great that he’s ready to go back to the wild, especially as it’s Hedgehog Day on 2 February.

“Although it could be argued that every day is hedgehog day here.”

Source: Read Full Article