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

[Pricklesinperil]

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.

I missed it too.

As an aside I came across this tree decoration whilst Christmas shopping. How cute is this?

www.museumselection.co.uk/home-accessories/hedgehog-hanging-decoration/

That’s super cute @RichardOsmansXraySpecs ! I was just having a browse on the BHPS site shop - all the money from sales go to helping hedgehogs- I’ve just put this in my basket <squee>

That is SO cute.

@Pricklesinperil is wish we knew how you are but I suspect we all know deep down.

my big hoggy came back tonight. I think I’m going to build him a shelter.

The online hedgehog event from the other evening has been posted!

tagging @DowningStreetParty and @RichardOsmansXRaySpecs as I saw your posts saying you’d missed it

Thank you so much, very nice of you to post this. 🦔

Thanks Wheely just watched half of it.

Blimey that street in Nottinghamshire with 42 hedgehog highways on their street is amazing. I don't even know half of my neighbours down the road.

Interesting that hedgehogs were spotted less in the gardens with foxes. That could be why we don't get any, because there's always foxes in our garden. We even had a vixen with her cubs visit every night a couple of years ago.

Those little hedgehog footprints though 🤗

I'll watch the rest tomorrow. Thanks again.

Sorry to hear about little hedgehog. So many are lost to roads.

Hedgehogs probably won't be hibernating yet - the weather is still (relatively) mild in most of the UK

But please put food out all winter - even when they do hibernate they sometimes wake in search of food - they waste huge energy looking for it so the more people who feed over winter, the better

(I was Halstead (part time hedgehog rescuer) with a recent name change).

i received this e-mail from Hedgehog Street today Can you help hedgehogs?

Anyone’s hogs hibernating yet? Mine is still scoffing every night. He is EXPENSIVE!!

It’s still been rather mild where we are, it’s only today it’s been a little bit nippy. Maybe it’s not cold enough yet?
Can’t believe it’s December tomorrow the leaves are still on a lot of the trees. it’s more like end of October weather wise.

At least one hog is still visiting our food station and clearing the plate each night 💖

I did wonder about the weather being too mild to kick start hibernation.

Just a little bump for anyone still feeding their hedgehogs.
Apparently it’s going to get freezing from Wednesday so feed ‘em up before then!!

Good shout @RichardOsmansXraySpecs I was just browsing Hedgehog Street wondering about hibernation. It says this:

When do hedgehogs hibernate?
^^
Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October/November through to March/April. Research has shown that each individual is likely to move nesting sites at least once during this period and so can sometimes be seen out and about. During mild winters hedgehogs can remain active well into November and December.
^^
While in hibernation the hedgehog’s fuel supply comes from the fat stores it has built up over the summer. Eating enough before hibernation is vital and this is when supplementary feeding can prove important to hedgehogs.
^^
Any disturbance during this period can be extremely dangerous, as hedgehogs use up their precious energy reserves in order to become active again.
^^
Have a look at our Hibernation FAQs for more info.

Don't forget to feed and water the birds too now the weather is turning. Ours are getting quite frantic about food with freezing temperatures and snow on the way.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63857912

I've popped a feeder on the tree and will make sure the water doesn't ice up.

That's great to hear, @megletthesecond

I'm just wondering how many hedgehogs are heading into hibernation this year and on a much better footing to survive the winter because of @Pricklesinperil and pps. 🦔

Sharing this for the thread This has just arrived from People’s Trust for Endangered Species

@MrsMAgain Sorry I haven’t been on this thread for a while. I’m ashamed to admit that due to life events going on at the moment I have been really distracted and have only got as far as cleaning out all the bird feeders, but not filling them up. I will get on to it tomorrow as the weather has turned. How have you found the seed? We have a grape tree that has been keeping all the blackbirds busy …and our neighbour feeds the birds too…(in my defence…)

I just popped by to say that after the hedgehog food being left untouched for days, it has been polished off the last three nights. I put the camera outside last night and hope to capture some images to see if it’s a newbie that’s underweight and needs taking to a rescue as it’s now getting very cold. I hope not… I have enough on my plate at the moment !!

Sorry this is Eckno under different name!

Continuing to feed, and really hope the hedgehogs are OK in this cold snap.

the hedgehog that visits me is still visiting! I’m still feeding every evening.

The Robin was delighted with the new fat balls

Oh my fat balls have been completely frozen solid the last few days, they were like little hard stones. I had a flock of starlings staring at me when I woke up the other day - they were not impressed!!! I've had to break them up and scatter them on the ground or they just can't get to them. We also have a little fluffed up Christmas card robin who visits - he is loving the grated cheese I put out. Blue tits and sparrows too.
Hopefully the hedgehogs will start sleeping soon - it's bloody freeeezing out there 🥶

Look what I found! I heard Barekind being advertised on the radio

Just received this from the RSPB about the big bird watch in 2023 and small ways to help birds