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 so much - we do have the odd hedgehog in our garden at night and their house will be between the back of the garage and a natural stone wall so well protected and safe. I will sort it this weekend. Thank you for sharing the information.

No they can't climb. They struggle even with big pavement curbs which is why they often find them selves stuck on a road and can't get out.

Can they get into your garden through a path or is it all completely enclosed?

How do we know putting food out won't attract rats?

I'm on holiday in the countryside and saw a hedgehog on the side of the road. It was early afternoon. Should I have taken it to a ver or something?! I had no idea they shouldn't be out in daylight!

YABVVVU…. not to put photos in your OP.

I love hoggies. We used to have regular visitors, I put out food for them and set the trail cam to watch them. This year I think we've mainly been feeding the local cats and a fox, I've not seen a hedgehog 🙁

Hedgehogs are ok with crossing open spaces in the dark whereas rats prefer skulking in the shrubbery. So you use a hedgehog feeding house and position the entry tunnel so they have to be out in the open to enter It's not perfect but it reduces the risk.

Generally if you see them during the day something isn’t right. The best thing to do is take it home to weigh if possible and if it seems a good weight and generally well (appreciate its hard to tell) feed it and release it back where you found it at dusk. If you are worried any vet should check it for free and also have contacts for local rescues if necessary.
If you aren’t able to do any of that as a minimum move it away from roads and into some cover

Here's the queue for the feeding house under the rhubarb patch. There were 5 outside, I only got 4 in the picture, and 2 in the box.

OP are there any converted and well-funded national conservation efforts to revive the hedgehog population or is it mostly being left to individuals?

I'm not sure there's much I can do as I live in a city. I do love hedgehogs though and don't want them to go extinct in the UK!!

The solution to stopping cats eating the hedgehog food, is you shouldn't just leave it out, it should be inside a feeding station only the hog can reach. You can buy these or to save money it can be as simple as an upturned box or plastic crate, with a hole cut (12x12cm)only a Hog can get into. There's plenty of tutorials on Google.

Happy hogging.

A couple of links which may be helpful to present/future hedgehog carers. 🦔

www.facebook.com/wildthingskeyworth/
www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/

Thanks for this helpful info OP,I love hedgehogs. I didn't know that about slugs though,I honestly thought that they were a big part of a hegdehog's diet! I did know that you shouldn't give them milk though. When I was a kid,chunks of bread soaked in milk was the favourite to put out for hedgehogs. Back then,in the late 60s and early 70s, hedgehogs were far more common then. It's sad that their numbers have declined so much. Unfortunately,I'm not able to put out any food for them as I live in a second floor flat with only a balcony,and I don't think they'd be able to get up there! I do however put leftover cat food from my fussy little devil on the patch of wasteland out the back of the flats,and it always goes overnight. May be foxes or birds that eat it,but I always hope it's hedgehogs!

100% good advice!

It's why I can't stand astroturf. Sooo bad for the insects and invertebrates that Hedgehogs depend on for a food supply.

Yes, they really are in such terrible trouble. 😢

There's nothing I don't love about this post!

It's so sad when that happens but you're completely doing the right thing getting babies to rescues ASAP

Our success rate with little ones (140g odd when we find them so actually fairly big - tennis ball size) is only 50% odd. They're often too far gone once found.

Things you can do? Keep getting them to rescues when needed and pop out food and water if you can. If lots of people did this, they would fare so much better!!

Hedgehogs are notoriously fussy when selecting their living quarters.

We have had up to 5 houses in our garden and they've rejected each one!

Best thing you can do - other than good quality wood houses (not plastic or the thick mesh type - they're not insulated enough) is leave piles of leaves and sticks in your garden - not only do they attract food, the hogs will use the material for nests and you might be surprised - they might build a nest in your garden.

So August would be a bit early to stop eating but that's probably UK

Does the temp drop a lot in Sweden in August? I can't imagine so?

I have to say, peak feeding time for our hogs is April-May when they're coming out of hibernation and need to put on weight fast then Oct-Dec when food is a bit scarce.

Do keep putting food out if you can though - the odd hog that needs it will really appreciate it.

Is there a route in and out of your garden? That's the important bit.

Chances are if there is, and there are hogs in the area you'll be able to attract them.

Pop food and water out every night. In a home made feeder if other animals keep stealing the food (google it if needed). Be prepared to do it for a while - it can take a long time for hogs to find it. Once they've found it they'll likely return regularly. You'll know if it's them eating (dry) food as they leave little crumbs in the bowl.

As he should 🤣🤣

Yup they can

It's pretty easy to make a hedgehog feeder that prevents cats getting to the food if preferred. Have a Google :)

They aren't the most finessed lovers it has to be said 🤣

You can get hedgehog muesli which cats won't be interested in I think.

<waves>

I got very incensed when I saw someone say they were flea ridden vermin and couldn't help starting a new thread!

Good shout!!

For everyone that sees hogs, you can log your sighting here ....

ptes.org/log-your-hog/