To tell you a bit about Hedgehogs?

[Halstead]

There was a thread very recently, asking for ‘controversial opinions’. It got zapped really quickly.

One posters completely nonsense controversial opinion was that ‘Hedgehogs are flea ridden vermin’

I rescue Hedgehogs. I therefore think I’m being completely reasonable in stating Hedgehogs normally only have fleas when they are suffering from a wider illness. Of the ones we rescue each year, perhaps 1 in 5 have fleas (easily treated but NEVER with cat/dog flea treatment as the active ingredient is lethal to hedgehogs).

I also think I’m not being unreasonable when I tell you Hedgehog fleas are host specific. They aren’t the same type of fleas that invade cats and dogs, and they don’t bite humans, so you don’t need to worry about Hedgehog fleas invading your house and living in your carpets should you come across these critters in your back garden.

Hedgehogs really are in serious trouble at the moment. If they continue to decline at current rates, it’s predicted they’ll be extinct in the UK by 2025.

The current weather really isn’t helping. The hard ground means their main food source (beetles, caterpillars) are very hard to come by. Contrary to popular opinion, Hedgehogs shouldn’t (and don’t generally) eat slugs. If they do, it usually means they’re starving. Slugs often given them illnesses like lung worm and fluke which can be fatal to hogs. It really isn’t a pleasant death, either.

So… AIBU to tell you about about Hogs?... and ask you to pop out water and… if you can… something like kitten biscuit (high protein, low cereal, no milk variety) for our spiney friends? They would very much appreciate it.

Thank you for the slug comment, I didn’t realise at all! I’m a gardener and sometimes other gardeners will use the “hedgehogs as pest control for slugs” comment to encourage putting out water etc.,.
I feel like knowing slugs is a last resort for them is useful.

I’ve never seen one in my small city garden but saw two on an evening walk in our big city park last month and it was so surprising and exciting because I was aware their numbers are dwindling… I hope those hogs are ok.

Good on you for being a hog advocate! Also definitely not unreasonable, first time I’ve voted too 🙂🦔

Thanks OP. Unfortunately my garden is really high above ground level, so I never get any wildlife in it. Except for the odd bird.
I'd have followed your suggestions in a heartbeat otherwise though.

I have a hedgehog living in my garden at the moment so it's great to know what snacks I can safely give it 🦔

Thank you for this info OP, which I have found very helpful. We have a hedgehog in our garden (sometimes we have two), and we put out food (dry hedgehog food) and water for them. I love seeing them appear at a similar time each night. I was surprised to hear they don’t eat slugs. Each day is a school day!

I love hedgehogs. We have two hedgehog houses and a hedgehog feeding station in our garden, and a nighttime camera to watch them on.

There has been an ongoing thread we have been sharing hedgehog news and pics on. Have one for here too. The more people who help them, the better.

Is it ok to give them fishy flavoured dry cat food?

Yes I got the fright of my life the other evening when I went out to the bins.

I would like to add, cat food is great but not fish varieties. I did think they are slugs though so I've learnt something too 🦔

Ate!

Thank you for this! I’ll put kitten biscuits and water out this evening.

I had a maggot infestation in my wheelie bin last week, quite a few got into the floor when I was cleaning it and I noticed a hedgehog eating them later that evening - I hope they aren’t harmful like slugs?

No point in putting food out here as the sodding fox will get there first.

Where do you get Kitten biscuit from? I will happily get some and leave it in the garden. Does it have a brand name.
Only 2 weeks ago my DD found a hedgehog near a bush and picked it up on a plastic spade, I told her to put it in the forest where it is safe, (next to where she found it) I was worried it was getting scared being carried about on a spade, it wasn't in a ball. It was 5.30PM so was still light outside, does this mean it was ill? we are in Germany and live on a quiet road next to a forest, I made sure she put it down and it was gone when I next looked.

I’m glad AINBU (so far!)

They are ever so easy to feed. Believe it or not, specialist hedgehog food is often low protein/high cereal which isn’t optimal for hogs. And it’s normally comparatively expensive.

Sainsburys and Tesco pawn brand kitten food is approaching 30% protein and cheap as chips… and they love it! Kitten food is better than cat food as the latter often contains milk (v v bad for hogs) and kitten food has smaller kibbles, so less like to cause issues when eating.

they don’t like fish flavoured cat/dog food, but it’s not harmful.

Definitely no milk, bread or mealworms (which they LOVE but are soooo bad for them).

you’ll know if hedgehogs have eaten your food (rather than Neighbourhood cats) as there will be a load of crumbs left in the bowl from where they’ve been chomping down.

Thanks for all your efforts!

Own brand, not pawn brand.

I help a local wildlife rescue rehabilitate and release hedgehogs.
I love them but they aren’t as cute as people think. They are very messy eaters and quite smelly. They often have ticks as well as the fleas. Not great parents either.
To be fair the ones that come to me aren’t the in their best condition

I've recently started getting 2 hoggy visitors, which I'm thrilled about, ones a big one, looks healthy, the other smaller but still healthy looking, i keep out cat biscuits under a covered box to keep them dry/away from cats and 2 bowls of water.
I moved in last summer and think I've attracted them with the spilled sunflower hearts. Didn't expect them in the village, i got a few at my last house which was rural, once i got an adult and 4 babies.

If a hedgehog is seen outside when it’s light, they’re generally very I’ll and in need of emergency specialist treatment from a wildlife rescue (unfortunately vets can be very hit and miss as they aren’t specialists)

There is one exception… mothers who are building nests and rearing young will often be seen out in daylight from around May-Sept.

The way to tell the difference is that mothers will be moving purposefully, quickly, in straight lines and not meandering at all. If a hog is doing that at all, and out in daylight, please pop it in a box, keep it warm, with water and call a rescue.

I want to feed the hedgehogs but we have a rat problem 😔 I wish there was a way to keep just the rats out!

I have between 3 and 7 for 6 months over winter every year…they are indeed quite whiffy, but I luffs them.

Aww I love hedgehogs. Unfortunately we don’t have much of a garden so won’t be able to help out! I never get the whole hedgehogs/foxes/seagulls/pigeons are disgusting vermin thing though. What makes a rabbit better than a hedgehog? Or a sparrow or a duck better than a seagull?

I will confess to a real soft spot for pigeons and seagulls though, but I don’t feed them. Just enjoy seeing them out and about!

Gorgeous thread!

I love hedgehog 🦔 but despite having a lovely garden that’s a bit wild and perfect for them, I haven’t seen any in my garden for years.

So envious of those of you that do.

I have four OP all healthy, no fleas and ‘biggie’ (the one that got in the pond) actually waits for me to fill his saucer up with food and seeing them drink water is so cute
I love them ❤️
here is latest picture of ‘biggie’

Not the best photo

Just to add… hedgehogs will eat slugs, but they’re a minor part of their diet and eaten generally when they can’t get their preferred food.

@YoSofi - maggots are fine, don’t worry.