Belgian Hedgehog Rescue Overwhelmed by Sick Animals
An animal rescue centre in Merelbeke, East Flanders, is battling a severe wildlife crisis, receiving up to 10 sick and injured hedgehogs every day — many of them in life-threatening condition. According to VRT NWS, the Opvangcentrum voor Vogels en Wilde Dieren (VOC) admitted 180 hedgehogs in just 14 days, and only one in three survives.
A Growing Crisis
Centre manager Nick Demeulemeester says the situation has never been more dire. “In 14 days we received 180 hedgehogs,” he told VRT NWS. “The hedgehogs are always in bad shape. They have all kinds of wounds, or are sick from a bacteria.”
The numbers tell a stark story. Just four years ago, the centre was caring for roughly 500 hedgehogs per year. That figure has since tripled, with projections now reaching as high as 1,500 annually. The centre, which has been operating since 1984, typically cares for around 6,000 wild animals each year — but hedgehogs are increasingly dominating their caseload.
Multiple Threats Converge
The crisis is being driven by a combination of factors. During the spring and summer mating season, male hedgehogs fight each other for access to females, inflicting serious bite wounds that quickly become infected. At the same time, a bacterial disease known as hedgehog diphtheria — caused by Corynebacterium ulcerans — has been spreading through hedgehog populations in Belgium and the Netherlands since approximately 2020. The infection causes purulent skin lesions, subcutaneous abscesses, and severe weakening. Without rapid treatment, it is almost always fatal.
Adding to the pressure, the VOC Kieldrecht — another recognised wildlife rescue centre in East Flanders — officially closed on 1 December 2025, as confirmed by the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forest. Animals that would have gone there are now being redirected to Merelbeke. “The rescue centre in Kieldrecht has stopped,” Demeulemeester explained. “Animals from that area now end up with us more often.”
Life-Saving Work Against the Odds
The centre’s caretakers are working around the clock to treat the influx. “Only 1 in 3 hedgehogs survives and can eventually return to nature,” Demeulemeester said. “We do everything we can to save as many animals as possible.” A veterinarian sedates the animals and attempts to treat their wounds, but for many, the damage is too severe.
The workload has been described as overwhelming. As early as 2021, the centre reported receiving its 1,000th hedgehog of the year by mid-August — a milestone that previously wasn’t reached until October. In an in-depth interview with Onze Natuur, animal caretaker Gwendoline Eeckhout described the situation: “We are truly being flooded by sick hedgehogs, mostly weakened animals with stinking, purulent wounds.”
A Broader Ecological Problem
The hedgehog crisis in Flanders reflects deeper ecological pressures. Beyond disease and mating season violence, hedgehogs face threats from traffic accidents, robot lawnmowers operating at night — described by caretakers as “murder machines” — and garden ponds and swimming pools that trap the animals. Fencing that blocks hedgehog movement is another significant obstacle.
The Flemish government recognises nine official wildlife rescue centres (VOCs) across Flanders, but the closure of Kieldrecht has created a coverage gap. The system relies heavily on volunteers and donations, with limited government subsidies. VOC Merelbeke operates on private land and has historically struggled with funding, describing itself more as an animal clinic than a simple shelter.
What the Public Can Do
The centre is urging the public to help in several ways. For those who feed hedgehogs in their gardens, Demeulemeester advises spreading food across multiple locations to prevent animals from congregating and fighting. The centre also asks members of the public to transport injured animals directly to the facility if possible, rather than waiting for a pickup, as staff are stretched thin.
Anyone who finds a sick or injured hedgehog is encouraged to contact a recognised wildlife rescue centre. With hedgehog numbers continuing to climb and resources already strained, the coming months will be critical for the survival of these beloved garden visitors.
— Reporting based on VRT NWS, Onze Natuur, and the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forest