Photo Of A Hedgehog At Long Last...

I'm no expert @Kandy but think your Heggie might be ok weight wise to hibernate. If he/she keeps tucking into the BIG plate of food you have on offer it should put on weight . I think they are meant to weigh around the 600 gramme mark by December when the majority will then hibernate. I'd certainly try and speak to someone knowledgeable and failing that keep it warm so it doesn't attempt to hibernate yet, keep the feed going and then when it's got a bit fatter perhaps find a suitable spot in your garden for it to hibernate?

 

Thanks for your lovely posts everyone,it is nice to hear that others have these nocturnal visitors although it is sad when some of them get killed on the roads

Anyway,I spent a good deal of time on the net trying to sort out where I could take it and a couple of the rescue centres that would have been local if we hadn't moved house ended up a good distance away and as we were out to lunch early afternoon decided on a different one.Contacted the manager and she said to take it in and they would care for it and if there was any health problems then they would hopefully get it sorted.

It turns out @silu that my hog is a little girl and the lady told me that 530gms is a good weight for hibernation with 500gms being the absolute limit for hibernation.I had to fill out a form and have ticked the yes box for her to be returned to us in the spring and she has her own personal number so that when we ring up to enquire as to how she is doing they will know who we are talking about I noticed in the book that quiet a few hogs have been brought in for one thing or another and did spy a few in cages as well as lots of baby wood pigeons needing help

We also gave a donation so that at least it should buy quiet a bit of food or will pay for any drugs she needs to make her better,oh and evidently hedgehogs can get pneumonia something I didn't realise so at least she has some chance of surviving this winter.

 

Well done @Kandy. Do hope she makes it. Keep us posted as to a successful outcome. If the wee sole doesn't come through her hibernation at least you will have tried your best for her.

 

Just to advise folk who may not know, slugs are very bad for Hedgehogs and cause Hedgehogs to contract lung worm. Therefore if you are trying to help a hedgehog in trouble don't feed slugs.

 

Hi @silu and thanks for the info. When I looked after the two I found,I tried tempting them with slugs but they showed no interest in them and in those days as far as I know lungworm in hedgehogs was relatively unknown not like it is nowadays.

I had a surprise two days ago when I went out into the back garden to stock up the bird feeders and happened to glance down at one of the paving slabs and spotted these fresh poos that were not there the day before so it looks like I have been feeding more than one of them

 

I didn't know what hedgehog poo looked like so I'll keep my eye open for any as I'd be chuffed to get some hedgie visitors.