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What if the mother rejects her litter? Emergency options
In the wild, survival depends on instinct. For hedgehogs and tenrecs, motherhood usually comes naturally, but sometimes, especially in captivity or rehabilitation, a female may reject her litter. This can happen for many reasons: stress, inexperience, illness, disturbance of the nest, or a lack of resources. When rejection occurs, the lives of the young are at immediate risk, and quick, informed action is essential.
Recognising Rejection
Before assuming rejection, it’s important to distinguish between normal maternal behaviour and true abandonment. Signs of rejection include:
- The mother avoids or leaves the nest for long periods.
- She refuses to nurse the young, even when they try to feed.
- The young cry persistently or appear restless and weak.
- The female shows aggression toward the offspring, or in severe cases, cannibalises them.
Why Rejection Happens
Several factors may trigger rejection:
- Stress or disturbance: Frequent handling, noise, or nest disruption can cause mothers to abandon their young.
- First-time mothers: Inexperienced females are more likely to misjudge or reject a litter.
- Health issues: Illness, injury, or nutritional deficiencies reduce a mother’s ability to care for offspring.
- Large litters: Especially in tenrecs, oversized litters may overwhelm the mother, leading her to abandon part of the litter.
- Environmental problems: Poor temperature, lack of food, or unsuitable nest conditions can trigger rejection.
Emergency Options
If rejection is confirmed, immediate action is required. Both hedgehogs and tenrecs are altricial: born blind, hairless, and fully dependent on milk. Without intervention, survival is unlikely.
Foster Care (Best Option)
If another lactating female of the same species is available, fostering the rejected young can save them. Success depends on the foster mother’s acceptance: rubbing the young with bedding from her nest may help mask unfamiliar scents. Monitor carefully for aggression.
Hand-Rearing (High-Risk, Last Resort)
Hand-rearing is difficult, labour-intensive, and survival rates are often low, especially in hedgehogs. Still, with the right approach, it can be done.
Requirements:
- Milk substitute: Species-specific formula is critical. Cow’s milk is unsuitable and can be fatal. Specialised kitten or puppy milk replacers are sometimes used, adjusted for fat and protein levels.
- Feeding frequency: Newborns may need feeding every 2–3 hours, including at night. As they grow, intervals can gradually increase.
- Technique: Use a small syringe, pipette, or specialised teat to prevent aspiration (milk entering the lungs).
- Hygiene: Sterilise feeding equipment and keep young warm and dry.
- Stimulation: Like many small mammals, the young may require gentle stimulation of the genital area with a damp cloth to encourage urination and defecation.
Supportive Environment
- Provide a warm, stable environment (around 30–32°C for neonates, reduced gradually with age).
- Use nesting material to create a dark, quiet space.
- Minimise noise, handling, and stress.
Risks of Hand-Rearing
Even with the best care, hand-reared young face challenges:
- Lower survival rates.
- Increased risk of aspiration pneumonia.
- Difficulty weaning onto solid food.
- Behavioural problems if imprinted on humans instead of their species.
Because of this, hand-rearing is always a last resort: fostering or encouraging the mother to resume care should be attempted first if possible.
Preventing Rejection
While rejection cannot always be prevented, risk can be reduced by:
- Ensuring mothers are well-fed and healthy before breeding.
- Providing quiet, secure, and undisturbed nesting areas.
- Avoiding handling of newborns and checking nests only when necessary.
- Supporting first-time mothers with optimal conditions.
In Summary
When a hedgehog or tenrec mother rejects her litter, the situation is critical, but not hopeless. The best outcomes come from fostering rejected young with another lactating female. If that is not possible, hand-rearing is the only option, though it requires intense care and carries significant risks. Prevention through proper husbandry, nutrition, and stress-free environments remains the most effective way to ensure mothers accept and care for their offspring.
