Hedgehogs and slug pellets

Hi All

Hedgehogs & slug pellets, I still dont realy know do they cause the hedgehog problems if they eat slugs or snails that have eaten some of the pellets , I try NOT to use them and this year only in the greenhouse as I have a resident as some of you know taken lodgings in the base of my bamboo plus a little friend visiting as well as they had a right go of each other in the middle of the lawn last night (no fighting just lots of noise and pushing each other).

Next door have been sprinkling them around like chicken feed , like a lot of people do .

Whats your thoughts plus any hard evidence that is does or doesnt cause them harm

Spruce

 

It would seem they would need a lot to kill them,

http://www.wildlife-web.org.uk/hedgehog/facts/dangers.html

I play it safe & only use them in the cold frames, and then only sparingly.

 

I've never used them and never will...my main reasons are my dogs and chooks but i'm still concerned about any wild life....i'm lucky as i don't seem to have a slug problem and i rely on my chooks and the frogs etc to do the job for me....i've no evidence of the harm they may cause but i don't want to find out

 

sadly, I've tried most slug/snail repellents and the only one that I find works, are the blue pellets

I tried the nematodes recently, but even that one says on the pakage, that you still need to use additional slug/snail repellent as it only works underground (and they are now above ground at this time of year)

 

I only use in cold frames at my plot, away from our hens at home.

 

I use them each Spring (Feb 14th) to blat the slugs early. It seems to keep the slugs down to minimal. Old wives tale says Valentines Day is the perfect "anti-slug" day.
One year I listened to the "they poison the birds" claim, and was inundated with huge slugs.
I've not noticed any dead birds and the Hedgehog family don't seem to be affected. They roam each evening once it gets warmer.

 

I once got a Hedgehog stuck on my mit.

 

I remember that story Zig

 

I've been using the blue pellets, the organic ones based on Ferric Sulphide, I think.
Supposedly harmless to most other forms of life, http://www.organiccatalogue.com/p1821/ADVANCED-SLUG-KILLER-575g/product_info.html

I've not seen a hedgehog for years around here, we used to see hundreds dead on the roads, but now I think they have mostly been wiped out.

When I did use to see them, I never saw one eating a slug, never believed that old wives tale.
Mice are good for controlling snails though.