Bald Shropshire hedgehog named Bear regrowing spines Published duration 28 February 2019

image copyright Cuan Wildlife Rescue image caption Bear is receiving daily massages and weekly baths at Cuan Wildlife Rescue to aid his recovery

A bald hedgehog that has been receiving daily stress-busting massages has started to re-grow his spines.

Nicknamed Bear, the hedgehog was found with hardly any spines in a garden in Telford, Shropshire in January.

Staff at Cuan Wildlife Rescue in Much Wenlock said they believed the stress of an ear mite infection was responsible for him losing his spines.

He has also gained weight, and the centre said it was "delighted" with his progress.

media caption Bald hedgehog gets stress-busting massages

Manager Fran Hill, said: "I was just so thrilled.

"They have come through so beautifully evenly, the spines themselves look so healthy - and they are very sharp.

"The future is looking very much brighter for him than it was."

She said Bear had "doubled" in size, and now weighed 2lbs (907g) and had been building himself up on meals of meat, biscuits and gravy.

"He has been a very patient patient," Ms Hill added.

Bear has been having daily stress-relief massages with Aloe Vera gel, weekly baths to treat his skin and medications to encourage his spines to grow back.

Ms Hill said Bear was now too "spiky" to massage, but his baths would continue and he had Evening Primrose Oil added to his food to help his skin.

image copyright Cuan Wildlife Rescue image caption It is likely to be Summer before Bear can be released back into the wild

"His actual skin has not improved as much as we would have hoped," she said.

"Hedgehog skin is so delicate, but it is normally protected by their spines.

"Because his was exposed for so long...it is going to take a bit of time to get it right."

She said there were plans for Bear to be released into an enclosed garden, before being released into the wild in June or July.