Pets and plants.

We did think of that as it was before the apples dropped from the trees - they can have the same effect on the hogs.
Poor little devil actually fell off a wall he was so sloshed - maybe that`s why the hangover was so rough..... he did recover though, hope he learned his lesson.

 

Hiya Mike
A gorgeous fluffy golden retriever puppy by the name of Nico

 

I donubt you were any more unobservant than any other child . I don't remember seeing a lot of them either and I grew up in a rural, farming community. Plus hogs are up and about when chidren are generally sleeping - depending on the age of the child I guess.

Can you explain what you mean exactly by geographical variations affecting hedgehog populations, excluding rural and urban factors? Rural and urban factors are different in how they can affect density but there are also some common denominations between the two which links them. I can write it all down but it will take me awhile

 

Sorry, I should have explained myself better. I mean, are there some areas of the country where there is a higher population of hogs, compared to other areas - ie, are there likely to be more living in a village area in the South West compared to a village area in North Wales? I can't say I've noticed much difference in the number of foxes/badgers/rabbits etc that I've seen whereever I've lived, but I've definitely noticed more hedgehogs in some areas than others - but one person's observations are obviously not a good sample size!

 

@2nd_bassoon That's what I thought you meant. I'll write down what I know. If anyone else has got any information or even personal knowledge/observations then this might be the time to share.

 

How is Nico? I did ask on another thread, but maybe you didn't see it

 

He is totally and delightfully full of fun n mischief lucius

 

@2nd_bassoon I found a web site that contains lots of info on hedgehogs. It's called wildlife online - I'm not sure if I'm allowed to put the link in.

There have been several studies done on hedgehog populations but they seem to relate to the presence of Badgers. I don't know if a more specific study has been done comparing hog populations in similar areas without Badgers. It's very likely that in two similar villages without a Badger population that one would have a higher hog population as even though the villages are similar there would lots of variables. If studies were done on two similar villages they would have to be quite complex and lengthly, taking in to account all the variables. And, those variables wouldn't be static, they are subject to change as well. So, if one village had a higher population one year, the following year it might have a lower hog population. Things like habitat loss, habitat fragmentation ( and resulting affects of fragmentation, such as diseases, inbreeding, etc, ), habitat gain due to creation of new areas that can be utilized by hogs, even if created for another species, number of vehicles passing through the villages, number of people feeding the hogs, number of gardens available to the hogs, use of chemicals/ poisons in the gardens, use of chemicals in fields if within the range of the hogs, numbers of Dogs ( and Foxes ), numbers of animals that predate hedgehog nests such as Stoats, Weasels, Rats, etc, availability of natural foods would all have to be studied.