Talkback: Hedgehogs in the garden - Talkback

28/10/2011 at 14:20

Oh, i do wish they did not feel the urge to cross the road. We have lost so many to cars in Bristol. Timely reminder, Kate, to check bonfires before lighting them on Nov. 5th.

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28/10/2011 at 15:50

I totally agree Kate, at this time of year it's vital to check bonfires before lighting. Also, empty the compost heap out now or leave it, as you say, until spring. There's no point leaving turfing out the heap as a winter job when you might uncover hibernating hogs, and other creatures, which will likely die because of the disturbance. Thanks for highlighing their plight! Alas, I have none to save, but those who do should take note!

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28/10/2011 at 15:50

I used to see hedgehogs quite often in our garden but haven't spotted one this year. I have seen what I'm sure is hedgehog 'poo' though & I think they may be eating the suet nibbles & dried mealworms I put out for the birds.I have a hedgehog house, piles of logs, a small pond & lots of slugs & snails for them as well so they're welcome to stay!

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28/10/2011 at 16:14

Thank you Kate. We are desperately trying to save as many as we can and the state some of them arrive in is pitiful. Much of it is down to human activity which is completely at odds with what our wildlife needs. Anyone who is interested in these animals can find a vast amount of information about them if they care to do a search but the best thing they can do right now is put out cat biscuits and water to help the hogs fatten up for hibernation.

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28/10/2011 at 17:56

We currently have at least 5 hedgehogs in our garden which we are feeding everynight. They come to the dishes we put out by our patio doors so we can see them. We have also put up a camera to record their activity throughout the night. They are so cute and adorable.

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28/10/2011 at 21:45

very usefull info.. found a little friend in the garden just this week. .. dog was a little confused though!

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29/10/2011 at 00:10

We are very lucky to still get hedgehogs in the garden but I have to be very careful to ensure they are not about before I let our dog out as he is fascinated by them unfortunately! To encourage them I have banked up soil in front of our hawthorn hedge and then piled logs up at the end, I throw leaves and twigs into the area behind the soil and under the hedge which gives a nice safe area for hedgehogs and other wildlife to overwinter without being disturbed. http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.com/ Higgy

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29/10/2011 at 14:14

only this week,i looked out into my garden and saw 2 lovely FAT hedgehogs,i really love hedgehogs and would so love to resue them....i have a hedgehog house but i dont think my ones use it...ive cut a hole in my back fence and i think they come from the woods[which i back onto],i put food out for them but im not sure if they eat it or its the fox,local cat,rats or mice i like to think its spike.... sueA..how can you tell if its hedgehog poo? kate,im gonna look into becoming a hedgehog champion.[thanks for that].

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29/10/2011 at 14:25

Our gardens have always definately fitted into the description of scruffier. We used to see hedgehogs when we lived in a town but now we live in the countryside we don't seem to see them at all. Is this typical? They have plenty of cover and hedgerows, frogs, toads, snails, slugs.... however next door have a lot of cats do you think they get them? Sue

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29/10/2011 at 18:00

hi kate,went onto the site for hedgehogs,they have no forms left,they have had loads of responce apparently.

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30/10/2011 at 11:24

we have just moved to norfolk and have a large meadow with hedge rows around boundries we have teamed up with local rescue centre and release there hegdehogs back into the wild we have shelters and regular food and water, we really enjoy helping these lovely little fellows

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30/10/2011 at 20:57

ooh jt,that sounds so lovely,you luck thing and so are the hedgehogs,good luck to them and hope they enjoy there new lease of life,hope in spring you get hoglets....

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31/10/2011 at 10:50

Thanks for all your comments, lovely to hear that so many of you are feeding and caring for your hedgehog visitors. Asparagus Sue – I wouldn't have thought cats would catch adults, but they might have a go at juvenils. Apparently hedgehogs tend to avoid living in close proximity with badgers, so that might explain why you don’t see them now (along with the other issues in rural areas, which I mentioned in the blog) Sarahspondlife – lovely to see that you’re interested in becoming a hedgehog champion. They have no forms left but all of the information is available to download on the website Kate

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03/11/2011 at 18:02

Hi, we have a scruffy part to our garden too and are home to lots of foxes, much to one of our neighbours' displeasure! We have lots of hedgehogs too and we often see about three together in the garden with the foxes. It was very funny watching the young foxes following the courting hedgehogs as the hedgehogs circled each other for ages in the summer. I wonder if anyone can answer my query please, should you look out for underweight autumn juveniles at night or, only be concerned if you see one in the garden during the day? With lots of hedgehogs here, I'm surprised I've never seen an underweight autumn juvenile but then again, I've never actively looked at night. Thanks, lovely to read your post Kate and everyone's replies!

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03/11/2011 at 19:08

I heard an awful screaming the other night and when I put the outside light on, I saw a fox with a hedgehog in its mouth! It was the hedgehog screaming as it continued after the fox had sloped off. I don't know if it was the same one but a young hedghog was rooting round the garden in broad daylight a few days later.

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04/11/2011 at 02:41

How sad that Humans have ruined the habitat of nearly all of the natural species in this country,will they never learn. I have lived in my little house for 37 years with only heavy guage mesh as a barrier between gardens little creatures could crawl underneath then about 10 years ago the one side of my garden was replaced by a 6'4" closed in fence causing havoc to my garden,then 2 weeks ago the neigbour who has just moved in errected a closed in fence a foot away from my fence making my garden closed in by 9' because we live on a hill, so not only have they ruined my garden for me they have closed it off entirely to any small creatures such as hedgehogs, I dispair at peoples idiotic ideas.

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04/11/2011 at 10:25

Nunkynoo - if you have seen hedgehogs out during the day, please phone the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) immediately. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so if they are out in the day at this time of year it means they are too small to survive hibernation and are desperately trying to fatten themselves up. The BHPS will let you know where there is a trained carer living nearby, who will most likely take your young one in over winter and look after it. The number is here 01584 890801. Thanks Kate

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04/11/2011 at 14:41

The hedgehogs are fantastic garden and gardener friendly critters & you don't need slug pellets if you've got them and frogs in your garden. They can get diahorrea from milk so the dehydration this causes can kill. Leave a shallow bowl of water for them as well as food especially in dry weather. I presume they've suffered lots with the dry season as the slugs, snails etc have not been near the surface. The Hedghog Preservation Trust can give details of a local person who can look after them and they also oversee training courses around the country - I did one earlier in the year & was given invaluable info. for their needs and care.

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04/11/2011 at 16:28

I have had hedgehogs in my garden for several years and feed them all year, it is also important to remember that they also need clean water. Although they often dissappear for a few weeks they do still pop out from time to time during winter months, so keep a watch out for them. Motion activated lights are a useful item in the garden and the hedgehogs will set them off too.

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06/11/2011 at 21:48

have hedgehogs frogs newts and squirrels frequenting my garden havent seen them as often since next door bought 2 dogs and 2 cats :( hope its just a coincedence.