A PLUCKY hedgehog is being nursed back to health after being trapped inside a plastic-wrapped haylage bale for five months.

Maureen Williams, who runs Hollycroft Hedgehog Rescue in Tillington, believes the female hedgehog only survived the ordeal because she went into hibernation soon after becoming trapped in the bale.

The animal – nicknamed 'Gillette' because of her close shave – was discovered by Helen Saunders, from Weobley, who was feeding her ponies the haylage last month.

She had bought the bale from a farmer in the village who confirmed it had been cut last August. Although Gillette had some injuries and a number of spines had been cut, she had remarkably managed to survive being picked up by the baler and being trapped inside the haylage for months.

Ms Saunders said: "I was so surprised. I thought she was probably dead because I couldn't imagine anything would be alive after being in there for several months.

"I picked her up and saw she moved slightly although was very curled up so thought I had better take her down to Maureen.

"Some of those bales go from one year to the next. If it hadn't been that bale that had been opened and I hadn't found her then, she would have died."

Gillette, who has been seen by vets and given antibiotics, is now well on the road to recovery at Hollycroft.

Mrs Williams, who runs and funds the centre herself, said: "She's doing very well. I have put her into an outside, bigger cage now.

"She was quite poorly. I think probably she went into hibernation in the warmth of the haylage and that possibly saved her life. During hibernation, a hedgehog's heartbeat will go down from 200 to 20 and their temperature is just above freezing."

It will be a little time yet before Gillette is put back into the wild but she is receiving thorough care from Mrs Williams.

Helen added: "She's very lucky she got opened up and was still alive. It's a pretty remarkable thing for this little thing to have done and is doing so well now."

Donations to Hollycroft Hedgehog Rescue are always welcome. Call 01432 769375 to find out how you can help.