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To ask you to please help hedgehogs and other wildlife prepare for winter

735 replies

Pricklesinperil · 22/05/2022 22:24

It is literally a lifeline for them as the weather gets warmer.

if you’d like to know about other ways to help, please go to Help hedgehogs

thank you

Note from MNHQ - please do read the Op's latest update (October 2022) before responding.

OP posts:
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Pricklesinperil · 16/07/2022 22:19

@bloodywhitecat could you just water your garden, if you haven’t already, to encourage insects to surface?

i checked on hedgehog street and the recommendation is exactly what you have been doing I.e high meat content wet or dry pet food. It doesn’t suggest anything else.

What can I feed hedgehogs?

Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food, as these are high in the protein that they need. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary.

Place in a shallow dish and put in a sheltered area of your garden, or a feeding station (see below), around sunset. Splitting food over several sites may reduce aggression at food bowls. Don’t forget to offer water bowls too!

Specially made hedgehog foods both in dry and moist kibble varieties exist and can be bought from most local pet and garden stores. Please note that these specialist foods are not regulated or approved, and those resembling pet food with a high meat content are most suitable.

OP posts:
ofwarren · 16/07/2022 22:24

Got one in our garden tonight. Gave him some cat food and water.

To ask you to please help hedgehogs and other wildlife prepare for winter
Pricklesinperil · 16/07/2022 22:31

Lovely pic @ofwarren! Looks like quite a young one? And thank you for leaving out fresh water and food- it’s a lifesaver in this terribly hot weather

if you haven’t already, please log your sighting on the big hedgehog map Big hedgehog map

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sashh · 17/07/2022 07:10

bloodywhitecat

I see your three hogs and raise you 5.

They appeared at different times, one little feisty hog would arrive when a big one was eating and used to headbutt the big one.

blobby10 · 17/07/2022 08:06

MIne has changed his/her dinner time! Woke me at 4.30 this morning munching (very loudly) away with a few sexy grunts thrown in then had a good long drink. Grin

HopeSpringsInfernal · 17/07/2022 14:32

Wow - 5 hogs! You're so lucky. My two seems to have dropped down to one - I hope the little one's ok

Cervinia · 17/07/2022 14:59

I always leave water out unless it’s raining. My fairly low bird bath is used as a drinking fountain every night by the fox and badger visitors.

my wildlife camera has shown lots of visitors but I’ve yet to track a hog even though I’ve seen them in the garden occasionally.

RichardOsmansXraySpecs · 17/07/2022 17:22

Good to have you back Pricklesinperil.

Little reminder to please put out some water for the wildlife especially over the next few days 🥵

Pricklesinperil · 17/07/2022 20:35

thanks RichardOsmansXraySpecs

Evening bump

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RaspberryHoney · 17/07/2022 20:37

I have these two in my garden right now. 🦔🦔

To ask you to please help hedgehogs and other wildlife prepare for winter
To ask you to please help hedgehogs and other wildlife prepare for winter
witheringrowan · 17/07/2022 20:42

I've put out three dishes around the garden, as well as cat biscuits soaked in water - good for the hogs and also birds like the crows. Fingers crossed for some wildlife sightings this evening!

Pricklesinperil · 17/07/2022 20:57

RaspberryHoney · 17/07/2022 20:37

I have these two in my garden right now. 🦔🦔

Gosh, they must be so thirsty to be out so early - well done you for caring @RaspberryHoney . Lovely pics - thanks for sharing.

I’ve just read your thread re water for all wildlife - brilliant!

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Pricklesinperil · 17/07/2022 20:58

witheringrowan · 17/07/2022 20:42

I've put out three dishes around the garden, as well as cat biscuits soaked in water - good for the hogs and also birds like the crows. Fingers crossed for some wildlife sightings this evening!

Thank you @witheringrowan - please post back if you do get any sightings!

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WiseRobin · 17/07/2022 21:01

@StarDolphins i’m so sorry if this has already been mentioned I’ve not RTTWT and I know you absolutely mean well, but please don’t feed them mealworms, water yes, dry hedgehog food yes but not mealworms, they’re really not great for them.

WiseRobin · 17/07/2022 21:08

If anyone wants to help hedgehogs it’s hugely important you don’t feed them mealworms, they can have a catastrophic effect on their bones.

kitten biscuits (not fish flavour) hedgehog food, something like Spikes or Mr Johnson’s and lots of water in various bowls but please PLEASE, no mealworms.

blobby10 · 17/07/2022 21:36

My hog is up early this evening! Just had a huge scoff of food then a massive drink then another food scoff and has now disappeared next door 🥰🥰

To ask you to please help hedgehogs and other wildlife prepare for winter
Pricklesinperil · 17/07/2022 22:00

blobby10 · 17/07/2022 21:36

My hog is up early this evening! Just had a huge scoff of food then a massive drink then another food scoff and has now disappeared next door 🥰🥰

@blobby10 very early! Do you think there are 2 hedgehogs? One who woke you up at 4:30 then another one this evening?

no sign of any hoglets?

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liveforsummer · 17/07/2022 22:26

I live in a city but surrounded by green space, allotments and a river. I've been here 9 years and never seen a hedgehog. In fact I don't remember at all the last time I saw one anywhere. I can put some water out - it will probably help something right now (hopefully not the rats 😬) but is of likely we have them and there is just no evidence?

Classica · 17/07/2022 22:28

liveforsummer · 17/07/2022 22:26

I live in a city but surrounded by green space, allotments and a river. I've been here 9 years and never seen a hedgehog. In fact I don't remember at all the last time I saw one anywhere. I can put some water out - it will probably help something right now (hopefully not the rats 😬) but is of likely we have them and there is just no evidence?

they're nocturnal and are generally only to be seen in the day if they're very ill. so they may well be about once the sun goes down.

Classica · 17/07/2022 22:29

I leave water out for the foxes too.

blobby10 · 18/07/2022 06:31

@Pricklesinperil it had crossed my mind and i would love there to be two! One or the other or both came back four times during the night as I heard the munching and water drinking - stil can’t believe they are such noisy eaters 🤣x they live under my shed and have a hedgehog highway into next door, out the front, across the close then loop round and come back in via my other neighbours garden 😁😁

liveforsummer · 18/07/2022 07:08

@Classica we're out plenty in the evenings too. Especially at this time of year. See all sorts of wildlife but never a hedgehog. DD and a friend set up a wildlife camera a while back and have spotted a badger and fox with a rather close relationship but still no hedgies (that's somewhere a bit more rural too) are their numbers declining?

Pricklesinperil · 18/07/2022 07:46

liveforsummer · 18/07/2022 07:08

@Classica we're out plenty in the evenings too. Especially at this time of year. See all sorts of wildlife but never a hedgehog. DD and a friend set up a wildlife camera a while back and have spotted a badger and fox with a rather close relationship but still no hedgies (that's somewhere a bit more rural too) are their numbers declining?

@liveforsummer yes, sadly their numbers are declining. You can read more here about the state of Britain’s hedgehogs Hedgehog Street- state of Britain’s hedgehogs

They need us to help them!

You can check and see if there have been any sightings in your neighbourhood by entering your postcode here. Hedgehog Street big map

Here’s ten tips to check your garden is hedgehog friendly

You, your dd and her friend sound like you want to do more for hedgehogs and other wildlife- the three of you would make a huge difference for hedgehogs by becoming hedgehog champions in your neighbourhood. Hedgehog Street- become a hedgehog champion

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WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 18/07/2022 12:10

@Pricklesinperil

They NEED us to help them!

Yeah this. ^ And the least we humans can do after fucking up the planet for wildlife, and making so many species extinct, is help the ones we have left to survive!!!

Pricklesinperil · 18/07/2022 16:40

Thanks whilemyguitar. You summed it up eloquently😀

early bump - I had to refill my hedgehog water bowl twice last night as the first hedgehog drank all the water in the dish, had to refill it for the second one.

please please put out water for all wildlife

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