Bald hedgehog Ollie recovers from infection in UK charity care

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 12:44 · Archive

A hedgehog named Ollie has been taken into care after losing his spines to ringworm and a bacterial infection.

A hedgehog named Ollie has been taken into care by the charity Prickles in a Pickle in Stoke Fleming, Devon, after losing most of his spines to ringworm and a bacterial infection. Vets discovered severe crusting around his face that left him bleeding whenever he opened his mouth to eat, causing him significant pain.

Ollie is recovering slowly at the charity but remains unable to be released back into the wild. Judy Thomson, 66, co-founder of Prickles in a Pickle, said his condition was improving: 'He's looking a lot better now. His skin is better and not as crusty. He's eating independently, maintaining his weight.' She added that while it is not ideal to keep a wild animal in captivity long-term, recovery is the priority.

Warmer weather in the UK has meant that infections like ringworm have not been killed off by winter frost. Ollie's unusual appearance has attracted significant online attention, with videos of him viewed more than 13 million times. People online have compared his appearance to objects including an avocado, a rolled-up sock and a potato.

How it is being reported

• Bald hedgehog who lost his prickles gains millions of fans as rescuers nurse him back to healthVideos of Ollie have attracted more than 13 million views, with people comparing the bald hedgehog to a potato or rolled-up sock as a infection led to his unusual appearanceThe Mirror · 21 Oct, 12:24
• Rescuers come to the aid of bald hedgehog after it loses all its pricklesTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A bald hedgehog has been taken into care after losing all its prickles because of a nasty infection. Ollie has been saved by charity ‘Prickles in a Pickle’…Metro · 21 Oct, 10:11

In this story: Ollie · Prickles in a Pickle · Judy Thomson · Stoke Fleming · Devon

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