RSPCA appeal after burnt hedgehog found dead in North Yorkshire park

On Saturday (May 30), a report was made to the RSPCA that an animal was found near the remains of a bonfire in a wooded area in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

The animal, which was found near a cricket club, was the body of a badly burnt hedgehog.

It is not known whether the hedgehog was alive or dead before being set alight, the RSPCA has said.

The charity is appealing for anyone with any information about the incident to come forward.

RSPCA Deputy Chief Inspector Ollie Wilkes, who has been carrying out enquiries, said: “The hedgehog was lying about eight feet (2.4 metres) away from a patch of earth which had been deliberately set on fire.

“The animal had substantial burns to approximately 90 per cent of its body and a large open wound on its chest and abdomen which are likely to have been caused by the carcass being predated.

“Finding a hedgehog in these unusual circumstances would have been extremely upsetting and we’d like to thank the person who was concerned by what they saw and reported it to us.

“Because of the condition of the body it’s not been possible to establish whether the hedgehog was alive or dead prior to being burnt. We are therefore keeping an open mind as to what has happened and would urge anyone with first-hand information about this incident to contact us.

“We’ve been told that a number of fires have been started in bins at this location and it’s very distressing to think that a hedgehog may have been a victim of cruelty.

“These animals are protected by several pieces of legislation under UK law and we would like to remind everyone that it is a criminal offence to harm or deliberately mistreat them.”