Wildlife experts think it’s a regular lump of clay – but what’s hiding inside brought tears to my eyes

It certainly looks like an ordinary lump of clay. But, look again, you will never believe what’s really hidden in there …

Some say what lies on the outside can often be deceiving when something is not what it seems. And that’s true in this case.

If I had not seen the next picture I would never have known what was actually hiding in the clay – check out the pictures below and see if you’re as surprised as I was.

Stuck in the mud

Believe it or not, but this clay lump is in fact a poor hedgehog. The rescued animal had rolled into a protective ball, to escape a dog in Chichester, England. In his eagerness to get to the hedgehog, the dog accidentally rolled the animal through wet clay.

It dried very quickly and suddenly the animal was stuck in the stiffened clay – without any possibility of breaking free.

‘Barely recognizable’

Fortunately, the poor matted creature was rescued and handed to experts at Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital.

Staff said: “He was barely recognizable when he came in but we could see he was just about breathing.”

Experts worked hard to remove the clay which caused the creature to become cold and irritable but he was rewarded for his patience with a warm place to rest and a meal.

According to an article in The Guardian newspaper, hedgehog numbers are falling rapidly in the U.K. due to a loss of habitat and and increase in badgers, which can eat the spiky creatures. What was once a common sight in most British gardens is now a rare one, so we’re grateful to the person who rescued this troubled one.

Hopefully this sweet spiky creature can avoid dogs and clay in the future.

Share this happy-ending story with your friends and family and make someone smile today.