Bear the hedgehog who lost his spikes is put to sleep
A hedgehog who captured the hearts of the nation after losing his spikes has died.
Bear, who was nursed back to health earlier this year by Cuan Wildlife Rescue Centre, was put to sleep yesterday.
The centre, based in Much Wenlock, told its supporters on Twitter that Bear developed another unusual condition and that to keep him alive would have caused him suffering and distress.
The young hedgehog was first taken into the rescue centre in January by a worried woman who had found him in her garden in Madeley, Telford.
He had suffered from an infestation of mites while he was hibernating and it is believed the irritation, infection and stress is likely to have caused his spines and hair to fall out.
The staff at Cuan gave him daily massages and treatment with aloe vera and nursed him back to full health.
But just 10 days after being released back into the wild, Bear was back at Cuan.
Messages on Cuan Wildlife Rescue's Twitter said: "Today was such a sad day for us, and I know this may come as a shock to some of you.
"Our beautiful Bear, the once-bald hedgehog whose progress I know hundreds, if not thousands, of people have been following, finally lost his struggle to live.
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"He had grown back a full set of new spines and had been making a good recovery – to the point where two weeks ago he went to a small walled garden of our of our very loyal supporters.
"He spent a happy time there, emerging at night and rooting around among the plants. However, all was not well and 10 days later he went off his food so he came back to Cuan for re-assessment, but two days later developed another unusual condition.
"It was a hard decision to take, but it was very evident that to have kept him alive would have caused him suffering and. distress He was put to sleep and it was done gently, quietly and with dignity.
"We firmly believe that in the end that was the ultimate gift of mercy we could give him. Goodbye our beautiful Bear."
