Bernard was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it wasn’t his own fault.
In November 2025, the little hedgehog was hiding in a pile of leaves and branches. But what Bernard didn’t know was that his chosen spot would be part of a bonfire built for Guy Fawkes Night, a celebration in England.
When the flame was ignited, Bernard’s world suddenly burst into flames around him. The little hedgehog cried out for help. Thankfully, someone heard him.
Susie Kemp, a public relations officer at Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Haddenham, UK, told The Dodo: “Members of the public heard the screams and saw the hedgehog running away from the fire.”
Bernard had already done the only thing that needed to be done when the woman came to him.
“Hedgehogs’ self-defense mechanism is to curl into a ball when they feel threatened or scared,” Kemp says. “Their sharp spines protect them from predators, so their tactic is to curl up and stay still until the threat is gone. This is exactly what he did in this case, despite being in severe pain and extreme stress in this situation.”
The woman gently scooped him up, wrapped him in a towel and placed him in a cardboard box. She then rushed him to Tiggy Winkles Wildlife Hospital.
The hospital team quickly determined how serious Bernard’s injuries were.
“On arrival, Mr. Bernard had severe burns to a large part of his spine and the skin underneath, and was also suffering from smoke inhalation and shock,” Kemp said. “The chances of survival from such extensive burn damage to his skin were very low, but we remain optimistic and give each patient the best chance possible. The first 24 hours were the most critical.”
Despite the odds against Bernard, the hospital team worked hard to save his life. Bernard was in intensive care for several weeks. But then he gradually got better. His power returned. His appetite has increased. And his defensive spikes grew again.
Soon Bernard is strong enough to be moved to an outdoor enclosure, where he is relearning how to be a wild hedgehog. According to Kemp, he “loves food and enjoys cuddling up under a warm towel and having a nice, full midday nap.” She added that he is also “an amazingly fast swimmer in hydrotherapy sessions.”
Bernard is still in hospital, but the team plans to release him back into the wild once they can confirm he can successfully roll into a protective ball again. If they can’t roll into a ball, they may have to continue living in semi-wild, but protected spaces.
“Everyone on the team has been rooting for Bernard from the moment he joined us, and it’s great to see his progress on this long road to recovery,” said Kemp. “It was so gratifying to see the shiny new spines grow back. The bittersweet moment will be when we finally have to say goodbye when he is released back into the wild.”
Bernard is one of the lucky ones, but his story is a powerful reminder to the public to take steps to protect wildlife.
“We want to remind people of the dangers these precious nocturnal mammals face when they encounter human habitat in the wild and how we can all take small actions to prevent them from being at risk,” Kemp said. “Keep soccer nets and other garden nets raised off the ground to avoid them getting tangled. Place a ramp at the edge of your garden pond so you have an escape route to climb out of when entering the pond. Check the long grass for wildlife before mowing or mowing. If you’re going to have a bonfire, set it up on the day you light it and lift it gently to check for wildlife.”
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