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.

@Halstead
hi halstead 🦔🦔I’ve finally got around to getting my hay and boxes for the hedgehogs as it is getting a bit chillier here In Dorset but they are still zooming around, I haven’t seen biggie for ages but have three smaller ones, two seem to keep to a different location in the garden, and keep going in the shed so I think they are looking for a bed….my question is do I make two box beds or one - do they share ? I have two good sturdy boxes from work fairly small you said make them about ten inch square? ( they’re a bit larger than that.) And a kilo of hay but I can get more, do I need to fill the box with hay completely ? Thanks in advance

Hi @TwoMonthsOff - it’s Halstead with a name change!

They're pretty territorial so will prefer not to share (although they will if they have to).

I would pop some hay in the box, but most just around the entrance. They’re likely to pull out everything you put in and rebuild anyway.

Also - they love dry leaves. If you can find any and pop those around near the entrance, they’re likely to drag those in.

Good luck 🦔 🍀

@Syrax
record time reply 🥰🥰🥰 thank you
haha no chance of finding anything dry in my garden at the moment -we have a sycamore that’s shedding like mad - lovely big leaves but everything is so wet.

thanks so much - I will take a photo I’m going to do it tomorrow as I think the hay will make a mess inside ! Have a lovely evening

We have one living in our garden and nothing creates more excitement than a sighting of 'Dave'. Would normal cat biscuits be good for him?

@OoooohMatron oh yes you should feed them they need to pile on the weight now
mine have got fussy and the wet food leftovers get ignore now so i buy the coshida brand from Lidl the chicken biscuits it’s the black and gold packet and they love it. @Syrax said kitten kibbles best as more calories but I haven’t been able to find that they seem to like the adult formula enough, so much noisy munching

@Syrax do I tape the box up all round with parcel tape, it may make it stronger and less prone to damp? And sit it on some extra cardboard inserts I’ve also taken from work so it’s not on a cold surface

Both of our neighbours gardens have resident hedgehogs.

we have holes cut in our fences to let them visit each other!

This is in your garage? Yes, can't hurt.

@Muchtoomuchtodo
they really do put down roots - I’ve just been out with my torch and one of them was actually WAITING by empty saucer - if hedgehogs have ‘disappointed face’ I’m sure he would have had one, they are so cute, I’ve raised a family here over the last four years

@Syrax it’s an old brick built shed with a concrete floor, there’s a freezer in there and some unused bikes it’s fairly empty unlike the other shed which is crammed with stuff. I can leave the door open as well - it when I was getting some food out of freezer a few nights ago I saw one in the corner (facing the wall) 🥲

@Syrax
hi syrax 🦔are these okay ? Just going to put in some hay

Looks good… give it a go. They may ignore them (fussy sods) but you never know

What a great thread. I have been following Hedgehog Cabin on Twitter, a woman who runs a wonderful rescue in Hampshire and who is incredibly knowledgeable) and am so pleased that you say all the same things that she does. She has been banging on about slugs being bad for hedgehogs for years so it's great this info is getting out there.

Thanks to her I put out cat biscuits every night and water. If people are concerned about rats they can be deterred by moving the feeding station around etc as rats are neophobic and hate any kind of change.

We can't stress enough how important it is to keep feeding your hogs all through the winter as they do wake up to sometimes get a top up of food. And at the moment there are still starving hogs desperately trying to find a kind garden where someone has left out some cat/kitten biscuits (I use Harringtons which have a high meat content and come in recyclable packaging). They won't hibernate until they have reached a certain weight to see them through.

even if you don't think you have hogs visiting, please leave out food. They have a great sense of smell and if they don't find your food you can always distribute it in the morning to the birds. It does need to be changed as if slugs get over it this may transmit lungworm. Chances are eventually a hungry hog will find you (if you have access points in your garden of course).

There is no need to buy expensive hedgehog food as unlike cat and dog food, wildlife food is unregulated and often full of dangerous ingredients such as mealworms, seeds, fruit and sugar. Spikes for example, has a lot of sugar and does deals with rescues who are paid to promote their food. Not ethical at all. There are some dodgy rescues out there so always do your research.

Also please don't ever feed hedgehogs bird food as it gives them Metabolic Bone Disease.

@Syrax Bed is being investigated as we speak am I unreasonable to be excited 😊

@InsectsMatter That happens to squirrels as well when they eat bird peanuts 😥

I never see hedgehogs near me, but I have put water out for them in the byshy part of the garden. If I put dry cat food out, the local farm cats will eat it.

Amazing handy work!

@userxx
i thought it was a bit ‘blue Peter’ 😭but sure beats the plastic carrier bag filled with paperwork that I caught one of them in, one of the nests was investigated last night as there was hay all round the entrance but alas there are still two vacancies at pricklies motel 😢like @Syrax said they are awkward little things - worse than cats probably 😭

I love a hedgehog. We've just had a new fence with concrete gravel boards. First thing they did was comment on the feeding box and house and then cut a hedgehog hole in the gravel board. Love it.

Mine are still coming every day - plate of cat food demolished every time. 🙂

@Syrax
Imam absolutely delighted to report that one hedgehog house now has an occupier 🦔❤️

@TwoMonthsOff Amazing news! Just in time for the cold spell, too.

please do keep food and water nearby - they sometimes wake up from hibernation in search, and use huge amounts of energy in the search for a top up if they have to wander too far.

Thrilled for you … and your lucky hog guest 🦔

@Syrax I’ve had to melt the ice off the water bowl with hot water for them last three nights, it is seriously cold here, I hope they’re okay …I’ve just got in i May take them out Seconds in a bit.
i hope the vacant bed gets occupied soon, it looks so cosy and perfect and safe at least one of them knows a good deal ❤️🦔❤️🦔