From “Poltergeist” to Parkour: The Curious Case of the Adventurous Hedgehog

A mysterious “moving” statue that had staff scratching their heads has been identified as something far cuter—and significantly more clumsy—than a ghost.

Staff at a local business in Dorset were initially baffled earlier this week when CCTV footage from Monday night appeared to show a Buddha statue shifting on its own accord. However, the mystery was solved the following evening when the true culprit was captured on camera: a tiny, daring hedgehog with a penchant for high-altitude exploration.

The footage revealed the animal embarking on an ambitious climb, scaling a large wooden beam before losing its footing, tumbling into a hanging basket, and ultimately dropping to the floor. Staff members believe the nocturnal visitor had become trapped in the yard, which remains locked overnight.

Rather than being unnerved by the strange happenings, the team found the encounter heartwarming. “We thought it was funny,” said one staff member, noting that the team had been “cooing” over their unexpected little customer throughout the ordeal.

The footage eventually reached experts at Dorset Hedgehog Rescue, where Jim Dunne, who has run the organization for 13 years, admitted he had never seen such an “adventurous hedgehog” in his career.

Dunne explained that the animal’s behavior, while impressive, was likely a result of its biology rather than a desire for adventure. “Hedgehogs have poor eyesight and rely on their sense of smell and hearing to get around, which means they tend to blunder into things,” he explained. “If they can get themselves into trouble, they will.”

The young female, who has been affectionately nicknamed “Ghost” due to her initial “supernatural” appearance on the security cameras, was taken into the care of the rescue centre. After being kept overnight on Wednesday for observation, Ghost was successfully released back into the wild in Dorchester on Thursday, presumably to continue her escapades on firmer, flatter ground.