Ollie the hedgehog recovers from ringworm and becomes rescue ambassador
Ollie, a hedgehog found in Plymouth with a ringworm infection that caused all 7,000 of his spikes to fall out, is recovering and has become an ambassador for a hedgehog rescue.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Ollie, a hedgehog found in Plymouth, lost all 7,000 of his spikes after catching an infection in the wild. He was so crusted with ringworm that the person who found him thought he looked like a concrete garden ornament and was not sure at first what he was.
He was taken into the care of a hedgehog rescue, where Judy has been treating him. His mouth was so sore that it bled when he tried to open it. He began with anti-fungal baths, was given antibiotics for an underlying infection and received pain relief. His care has now moved on to moisturiser and barrier cream, and he has grown some fur.
Ollie has also become an ambassador for a charity that rescues sick hedgehogs. Judy said he has a character of his own: when his cage door opens he looks over his shoulder as if to say, 'Oh not again', but he seems to enjoy having the cream applied.
Judy used his case to highlight the pressure facing hedgehogs, saying they are facing becoming extinct. She said people can help by linking gardens, making a hole in a fence and leaving out water at the very least. She also urged people to support local rescues and to phone one as soon as they see a hedgehog out during the day, which she said can be a lifesaver.
Ollie is now receiving care as he recovers and is helping raise awareness of wildlife rescue.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A hedgehog named Ollie lost his prickles after developing a fungal infection. | |
| Ollie became an ambassador for a wildlife charity that helps other hedgehogs and raises awareness of wildlife rescue. | |
| Ollie was receiving care while he recovered. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The channel's lunchtime bulletin gave the story a short, upbeat mention as an unusual animal helping wildlife rescue. Its longer programme turned the item into a studio interview with Judy, focusing on Ollie's treatment, his character and practical advice for protecting hedgehogs. The tone was warm and campaign-minded, with a clear conservation message.
- “Ollie lost his prickles after developing a fungal infection and is now receiving care as he recovers.”
- “All 7,000 of his spikes fell out when he caught an infection in the wild”
- “hedgehogs in particular are facing becoming extinct basically”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.