Hedge-log: No wonder the cute creatures are endangered... they just can't stay out of the woods

By Lee Moran
Updated: 05:16 EST, 30 August 2011

Hedgehogs were recently revealed to be one of the UK's most endangered animals - which is not surprising, judging by the picture below.

This cute yet clumsy critter was found at loggerheads with nature after becoming trapped in a hollow tree trunk in Nottingham.

With his face poking through one hole, and his paw through another, it was only by sheer chance that he was discovered by a passer-by and taken to a vet.

Stumped: This cute critter was found trapped in a tree trunk in Nottingham

It took 45 minutes to cut him free from the log, using hammers and chisels - and a tablespoon to protect his spiky head.

He has now made a full recovery and staff at the Vets Now Nottingham clinic have released him back into the area where he was originally found. 

Earlier this month, it was revealed that wild hedgehogs were on a list of Britain's ten most endangered animals and were at serious risk of disappearing in the next 40 years.

Researchers looked at rates of decline, recent population levels and reasons for creatures being under threat, to draw up the list in a report for TV channel Eden.

Zoologist Dr Toni Bunnell said that, although there were still around one million hedgehogs in the UK, high rates of decline meant they were at serious risk.

She said they were mostly killed by mowing and strimming and added: 'More can be done in terms of habitat preservation and providing suitable habitat, finding out what they need for the species to survive.'

Dr Bunnell added that it was not enough to provide 'little oases' of habitat, and that species also needed wildlife corridors to connect areas together.

Endangered: Although there are one million hedgehogs in the UK, the species is under threat