Egelopvang Central Netherlands in Huizen has taken in 185 hedgehogs in recent months, many of them weakened young animals that need to gain strength before hibernation. Staff check the animals for injuries and provide daily food, water and clean bedding. The shelter says drought left some hedgehogs with too little time to build up reserves before winter.

The shelter is seeking financial donations and old newspapers. Caretakers use shredded newspapers as nesting material because they are soft and less likely to injure the hedgehogs' feet. Depending on their condition, rescued hedgehogs are taken to the shelter or an animal rescue service is contacted; the shelter hopes to return as many as possible to the wild for hibernation.