Should rehabilitated hedgehogs be released in winter? A comparison of survival, nest use and weight change in wild and rescued animals

The rehabilitation of sick or injured wildlife and their subsequent release back into the wild is considered important, not only for the welfare of the individual animal but also for the conservation and management of endangered and threatened wildlife. The European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus has declined by 25% in Britain over the last decade and is the most common mammal admitted to wildlife rehabilitation centres in Britain, with a large proportion of individuals admitted to gain body weight overwinter prior to release in the spring. Consequently, many thousands of hedgehogs are housed overwinter which incurs significant costs for rehabilitation centres, and has potentially animal welfare issues, such as, stress in captivity, reintroduction stress, increased mortality risk and impaired or altered behaviour. To determine if releasing rehabilitated hedgehogs during autumn and winter had an effect on their survival, body weight or nesting behaviour, we compared these factors between 34 rehabilitated hedgehogs with 23 wild hedgehogs across five sites in England over four different winters. Overwinter survival was high for both wild and rehabilitated hedgehogs, with a significant decrease in survival across both groups when hedgehogs became active post hibernation in spring. We found no differences in the survival rates up to 150 days post release, in weight change, or nest use between wild- and winter-released rehabilitated hedgehogs. Our results suggest that under the correct conditions, rehabilitated hedgehogs can be released successfully during winter, therefore avoiding or reducing time in captivity

The orthodontic condition of children in the United Kingdom, 2003

Background The 2003 Children's Dental Health Survey is the fourth in a series of decennial national children's dental health surveys in the United Kingdom. Aims This paper reports on the orthodontic condition of children aged 12 and 15 years. Methodology A representative sample of children across the UK were invited to participate in a clinical dental examination in school. Two thousand, five hundred and ninety-five 12-year-olds and 2,142 15-year-olds were examined. Current and past orthodontic treatment and type of appliance worn were recorded. Orthodontic treatment need was assessed by the Modified IOTN in those not undergoing treatment. A postal questionnaire sought parents' views on the orthodontic condition of their children and perceived need for treatment. Results At age 12, 35% were judged to have an orthodontic treatment need, 57% had no need and 8% were wearing an appliance. The corresponding figures at age 15 were, 21% (need), 65% (no need) and 14% (wearing appliance). A higher proportion of girls (p < 0.05) were wearing an appliance than boys. A greater proportion of 15-year-olds were undergoing treatment than in the 1993 and 1983 surveys and the use of fixed appliances had increased. Conclusions In this representative sample of UK children, one in five were still judged as having an orthodontic treatment need at age 15 years, as determined by the modified index of orthodontic treatment need. However, considerable variation was observed between professional and lay perceptions of need

Complexities associated with orthodontic services in the National Health Service

Aim To detail orthodontic provision in Wales. Background In 2006 the new orthodontic contract was introduced in the NHS in England and Wales. Since the introduction of the new contract there have been recent reports of inefficiencies in orthodontic provision in Wales in terms of: orthodontic provision reaching those who need it, type of orthodontic activities undertaken, who is providing orthodontic care, the relative cost-efficiency of the orthodontic services, contracting and performance management of the services and robustness of the orthodontic database. Materials and methods 2008/09 orthodontic data on contracted services were analysed. Data from the salaried services was collected through a questionnaire. Normative orthodontic treatment need was estimated from mid-year population estimates. Results In 2008/09, there were considerable inefficiencies in the orthodontic services in Wales with varied level of access by children living in 22 former local health boards, co-terminus with local authorities in Wales. Total spend on orthodontics in Wales was around £12,718,370. It was estimated that 11,539 (30%) of 12–17-year-olds required orthodontic treatment. In 2008/09, 11,031 children received orthodontic treatment in all NHS services in Wales indicating a potential shortfall of 508 treatments. Out of 135 GDS/PDS orthodontic contracts, 27 provided no active treatment (only assessments) and 62 provided less than 50 treatments annually. Cost per units of orthodontic activity (UOA) ranged from £58 to £74. With improved contracts and efficiency, the orthodontic budget seems sufficient to meet the orthodontic need of the population. Conclusions As with any type of NHS provision, it is important that orthodontic services are competitive, highly efficient and provided on the basis of need. Performance management of orthodontic services should focus on the number of successful orthodontic treatments delivered annually. The personal dental services (PDS) orthodontic contract will need to be modified accordingly