CLIMATE change across the county has meant lots of wild animals are being born months too early and finding it hard to survive

CLIMATE change across the county has meant lots of wild animals are being born months too early and finding it hard to survive.Many baby hedgehogs and deer fauns, usually not seen until July, are ending up at animal rescue centres after being abandoned by their parents.Staff at Secret World Wildlife Rescue in East Huntspill are surprised and shocked by the phenomenon.Charity fund-raiser Debbie O'Keefe said: "Baby hedgehogs, known as hoglets, are usually born in July and August. We had a mother brought in a few days ago who gave birth at the centre. Unfortunately she died, but one of our members of staff is looking after one of her babies, called Rolly. "Because the animals are born earlier than usual they are having trouble finding food. We think it is because of climate change. It has been unusually warm these last few weeks and nature is getting a bit confused."We have also had a one-week-old deer faun who is incredibly tiny. Deer can be born all year round but most are born in July. We haven't named the deer yet but he is very nervous. "We are not sure if this deer was actually an orphan. Sometimes members of the public pick them up without realising that the parent is nearby collecting food. We know they mean well, but unless the animal seems in distress, we would advise them to leave it."We would also like to warn farmers that deer often sit down in fields and can sometimes not be seen. In the past we have had badly injured animals that have been caught in farm machinery.