The Brits Who Found a Blue Ball in the Garden and Discovered It Was Alive

Some residents of the city of Taunton, in the southwest of the United Kingdom, found something strange in their garden: a blue ball, not very uniform. It was a little porcupine. The poor animal was completely covered in ink and curled around its body like a three-banded armadillo from stress. The family could not find out if someone had painted it on purpose or if it had accidentally fallen into a paint can.

Check out a little more about the history of the blue ball, which, as we say, had a happy ending.

In England, there is a special service called the RSPCA: Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which is dedicated to rescuing animals and ensuring their protection. The family that found the blue hedgehog sought out this association, but first tried to clean the animal, without much success.

The society official took the animal to the center to help him. The hedgehog, a female, was saved, but the process was far from easy.

The ink was corrosive and it took several days to completely remove it from its thorns. In addition, the material reached the skin, a very sensitive part of the poor animal, causing a series of ulcers.

That’s why the specialists had to resort to the use of anesthesia; only then could the wounds be treated.

The hedgehog, of course, was named after Sonic, after the famous video game character from the 90s.

After treatment, the animal was released into the wild, and we hope the only resemblance to the video game character is in the name rather than the color.

Representatives of the RSPCA claim that in the hot season, ground urchins often end up in unpleasant situations and in danger, mainly due to elements found in nature and in people’s homes. Chemicals, nets, garden tools and other objects can cause serious injury to these animals. In spring they leave the hibernation phase and go out to look for food.

Experts say other small animals, and even pets, can suffer the same risks. Sonic’s story is one of many that association officials need to sort out. Therefore, experts recommend that people pay attention to the danger that these animals suffer. Therefore, they ask people to be careful with objects that can be dangerous to them.

Animals that may suffer are:

rabbits and hares; foxes; martens and weasels; porcupines; small rodents; birds.

People with pets should also remember that taking their pets out into the wild can be dangerous as they can be seriously harmed. Domestic animals are not used to these environments, and veterinarians say that it is very common to treat injuries and poisonings in pets that have been taken into the wild.

Therefore, it is worth ensuring that pets do not have access to:

poisonous plants (cause poisoning and burns); fertilizers and manures (contain chemicals and a lot of chlorine and phosphorus); areas where they can hurt their paws; water deposits.

Before traveling to a place in the wild, consult a veterinarian and always carry a first aid kit for your pet as well.