Hedgehogs are still about….

[GJH]

I suspected that we still have at least one hedgehog about so have kept putting the food out (and bringing it in during the day to stop the blackbirds taking it instead of the food I put out for them).
Last night it was confirmed as caught a hedgehog on the wildlife camera. Unfortunately the file is too large to upload and it was rather misty so it's a bit too indistinct to be worth editing into a smaller version.

 

[GJH]

Our visitor was back last night - and clear enough to clip a section small enough to upload this time

 

[PP Bear]

I used to watch a woodmouse who crept out at dusk to grab a piece of catfood from the hedgehog food bowl, and then carry it back to his/her nest under the patio. Suddenly that stopped and I never saw that mouse again. Aww.

There are no signs that any other rodents have been eating the hedgehog's food.

Only one of my hedgehog regulars is still visiting my garden looking for food. It arrives at about 6pm, eats about half of the catfood in the feeding bowl (with a few added mealworms for extra flavour - hedgehogs need some chitin in their diet anyway). After a drink of water, it probably goes back to its nest for warmth and shelter. After dawn, the Jackdaws and pigeons eat what's left.

All the others (at least 4 hedgehogs that I recognised) stopped coming here over 2 weeks ago so I concluded that they are hibernating. I will carry on putting out food every evening until the signs are that the last hedgehog has stopped feeding.

If during the coming winter months there are some signs that a hungry hedgehog is out and about again, I will resume putting out food (and fresh water).

I

hedgehogs.

At the rescue centre, we never recommend or give mealworms to our hoggies, they’re not good for them.

Metabolic bone disease
When hedgehogs consume mealworms regularly, they may develop metabolic bone disease, a condition characterized by weak and brittle bones. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including lethargy, loss of appetite, and difficulty moving.

 

[AndyPK]

That’s why we changed to calci worms for ours - they seem to thrive on them, PP Bear

 

[PP Bear]

Still busy at the rescue centre. This is poor Harry. He was trapped under a large wheelie bin after the wind blew it over onto him. He’s not doing so well and he’s having to be hand fed a few times every day, but the prognosis isn’t good, but we’ll fight for him while he’s fighting. He came in literally riddled with ticks and ringworm as well as the injuries he sustained. Took a while to get all the ticks off as it looked like there were eggs too, which were tiny, but we’re getting there, he just needs to get better and stronger to survive.

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[PP Bear]

This is Gabriel, who was found tangled and injured and caught up in nylon netting, so he’s on injections and special care

 

[PP Bear]

This is after Henry has been fed and had his injection and then his ointment applied to the injuries on his feet, along with Luna pup who is a rescue after being continuously bred, with her only birthing 3 puppies on her last litter, so they wanted rid of her. As a mum, her maternal instincts are amazing and she loves every single one of the hedgehogs that we take into care. She’s so gentle and so caring, but wants to lick them like a mum dog does but of course, we never let her for obvious reasons, so she knows to watch and smells them and is an amazing dog, especially after the life she’s had

 

[PP Bear]

Still busy at the rescue centre. This is poor Harry. He was trapped under a large wheelie bin after the wind blew it over onto him. He’s not doing so well and he’s having to be hand fed a few times every day, but the prognosis isn’t good, but we’ll fight for him while he’s fighting. He came in literally riddled with ticks and ringworm as well as the injuries he sustained. Took a while to get all the ticks off as it looked like there were eggs too, which were tiny, but we’re getting there, he just needs to get better and stronger to survive.

View attachment 1153605

Sorry to say that poor little Harry didn’t make it and we lost him last night. He just couldn’t overcome his injuries from being trapped under the wheelie bin when it blew on top of him. Still, he went with a full stomach and warm, but we do hate losing them

 

[AndyPK]

Glad to see someone is making use of an old rat trap…….!

 

[AndyPK]

Not seen a ‘hog since 28th December - presumably hibernating - but this little fellow (‘Big Ears’) is out every night……!

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[Nirvanauk]

Mine have definately gone to sleep for the winter.

 

[GJH]

Not seen a ‘hog since 28th December - presumably hibernating

Same here.

 

[Bryony]

Ours was out pootling around last night briefly. He tends to get up, quick wander, food and water, back to bed. He’s been up and eating most days but does have the odd day of sleeping through. We’ve had no snow or anything but it has been cold enough for the pond to have an inch of ice on it. But that’s defrosted now. It’s rainy days when he tends to sleep in more.

 

[AndyPK]

‘Big Ears’ is no longer with us……..

 

[AndyPK]

First ‘hog of the year! Not seen any since 28th December, but early this morning this one appeared…..

He/she went into the HogHouse just after 6 this morning and stayed…..

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