The Dublin animal charity has called on people to check before using strimmers after a baby hedgehog was accidentally maimed and its mother and siblings killed by the gardening tools.
Hedgehog Rescue Dublin shared pictures of the badly injured hedgehog this evening.
The adorable little critter was hurt by a strimmer in the Co. Meath area.
The charity urged people to check for signs of hedgehogs before using the tools in long grass.
A spokeswoman said: "Heartbreaking. He's 123 grams. His mother and siblings are all dead, chopped into tiny pieces by a horrible strimmer."
She continued: "Tonight this little life fights for his life. We will do everything we can but he is missing half his nose.
"His leg is mangled. He didn't deserve this."
The spokeswoman told Dublin Live that around half of their call outs are because the animals have been injured by strimmers.
She urged people to have a quick check in long grass before firing up the machines.
If nests are discovered, please contact Hedgehog Rescue Dublin on 086 8810492.
