Hedgehog encouragement

Sorry I'm not around much in between running my own chinchilla forum, work, decorating and trying to stay on top of the garden there aren't enough hours ... but tonight I got a good belly laugh and thought I'd share.

One evening last week, in between chin runs when I pop outside the garage door for a urm ... moment or two :wink: I spotted a hedgehog walking purposefully by my back door. Not a total surprise a garden neighbour had been round inspecting gardens as she'd just released two hedgies and she wanted to be sure the area was as safe as possible.

Not a good photo but that brown mound in front of the plant thingy is Mr. Hedgie (he really didn't appreciate me taking his pic)


It has been explained to me hedgies can't drink from that type of bowl, but I was excited



The next evening I got two breeze blocks popped some loose tiles over and a brick infront (to prevent cats paws sneaking in and placed a saucer of mealworms with a small amount of chopped meat at the back of the tunnel, I popped a saucer of water by the side and in the morning I had a totally clean saucer :D

Only now did it occur the entrance was supposed to be 4" square my breezeblocks were too tall so it could have been a cat maybe a fox & how did I know it wasn't rats :skp: So I stuck to mealworms and they were disturbed but not eaten.

Yesterday I put the blocks down so my hole was judged to be 4 inches square (by me) and popped some chicken on a saucer with mealworms, the chicken was gone this morning. On a roll I placed some more chicken much earlier this evening.

I was rewarded by this sight as I had barely entered the garage







All I can say in the greedy critters defence is that he did deign to come when called and speak to me, usually he runs a mile when he sees me :laugh2:

back to the drawing board methinks :rolleyes:

 

ahhhhh but think of the things you are learning in the process! Your efforts will be rewarded I'm sure

 

At least you discovered the truth, Chinquest. As they always say, the camera never lies, and now you've seen it for yourself.:hehe: :lollol::rotfl:

 

I think as long as there is somewhere safe for them to shelter, hedgehogs will generally sort themselves out, as there should be enough slugs and worms about in the garden to sustain them. We had a resident hedgehog for a few years. I'm not sure if it moved on or died because I haven't seen it this year, but it was mature and judging by its size, it did ok for food. There is a patch at the bottom of my garden that we never use, where I just keep piling Leylandii clippings (now a sizeable pile of twigs). We think Steven (the hedgehog) lived in amongs it as when sitting out on a warm evening, we'd here rustling from there then Steven would appear to start his rounds. He got so used to us sharing his garden that a few times I'd go and get some water and put it on the floor by our deck chairs, and he'd sup his water while we sat supping our beer. Then he'd wander off to find a juicy slug for his evening takeaway. The next door neighbour saw a fox in our garden a couple of times, and we haven't seen Steven for a while, so we think maybe he was eaten, but that's nature for you.

 

I'm thinking about setting up a camera in my garden, just to see what passes through it, or to see what lives in it when I'm inside. This will be a project for next year, and since it will capture images at night too, I'm looking forward to it.

 

Awww how cute. I am so hoping a hedgie moves in to my hedgie box

 

~We all need to be helping hedgehogs and badgers at the moment. The ground is like concrete and they can't dig for food. I've got a little baby hedgehog found in my garden in the middle of the day, only weighs 300grm. He's off to a hedgehog 'specialist' today. If you find tiny ones please help them because they won't last the winter - they've been born too late - because of the sunny warm weather. Great place for help is
www.thehedgehog.co.uk

 

I certainly have plenty of slugs enough for the two toads that I've seen so far and a good few hedgies I suspect. I also have a compost heap they are welcome to snuggle up in

That is on my wish list I'd love to see what goes on out there. The one drawback with the house is the windows not overlooking the garden.

 

I'm wondering if I should buy a bag of straw and put some ready in the hedgehog box to help them?

 

I don't see why not unless you've got dried leaves you can use.

One morning last year I found a young snuffling hedgehog sitting in the middle of the car park where I then lived. I took it to the vets where the receptionist took the line I should have left it for mum to find. They did then take it to a local wildlife rescue for me and through that I learnt if you do find a hedgehog out and about during the day then it needs help .

 

Hi Chinquest - there are so many leaves around here at the moment I gathered up a load and put them in so it is nice and cosy

 

Have you found a resident for yours yet Jazmine?

 

No I was hoping one would just arrive, maybe it's too late now.

 

There is (or there was - I don't know if its still there) a hedgehog sanctuary in Redcar up in the north east. A mother and daughter, Lynne and Pearl Appleby run it in their house (literally in their house). They're occasionally mentioned in the various newspapers up north, and apparently their whole house is overrun with hedgehogs that they've taken in to nurse better after various accidents, illness, and even acts of cruelty (I can't understand how anyone could be cruel to animals - buts that's a different subject).

While the work they do is commendable, it must be difficult for them having their house overrun, and it can't be the best life for the hedgehogs being stuck indoors all the time.

Then I see from this thread people are trying to attract a hedgehog, and I thought maybe there is an opportunity here for everyone to be a winner. I don't know if Lynne and Pearl eventually release the hedgehogs after their rehab, and if they do I wonder how the hedgehogs would fare, going from weeks of having everything done for them to suddenly having to fend for themselves, but I guess having caring individuals trying to help the hedgies out, it would be like a halfway house between being waited on hand and foot, and completely fending for themselves.

Ok, so the hedgehog sanctuary I know of is a bit far out for many here, but surely there are other ones elsewhere in the country.

It was just a thought

 

Hi Clueless, thanks for the information. I think we do have a hedgehog rescue centre in Norfolk, I was hoping one would just arrive of its own volition but I will look out the number. Anything to help the creatures out.