How do you catch a hedgehog?

[YesitsBess]

This prickly butthead is Jumanji, she/he visits every night to eat all the cat food and, if you're stupid enough to be sitting outside with your shoes off, attack your -worms- toes.

Usually we just greet each other of an evening, however the last couple of visits I've noticed she has something around her neck, it's like blue plastic. It isn't stopping her eating or behaving normally - yet. But ideally I'd like to get it off of her.

Unfortunately she is very fast (hedgehogs can run and it's hilarious) and I don't have a trap.

Any ideas? She's sat opposite me munching a slug at the moment so I don't think she's is imminent danger.

Amazing thread!

Our resident hedgehog, having been surprised by early morning humans, made a dash for a safe space under the shed. Unfortunately for previously unnamed hedgehog (but possibly on reflection called Pooh ) he was too fat and got half way under then was firmly wedged . We all stood round his immobile prickly bottom which was radiating embarrassment , until someone remembered where the really thick gardening gloves were and we could winkle him out.

Checking in for a morning update. Did Jumanjii escape the bath and destroy the house? Is DP on board with an overwintering aggressive toe-eating hedgehog at new abode…

I have a question for the experts though, I’m concerned mine is too small, I’ve been feeding him every night with hedgehog food and fruit which he loves. I’ve stopped putting cat food out as my greedy cat goes out and eats it!! But how can I fatten him up?

You can buy hedgehog food at Pets at Home, pet shops and garden centres. I think I buy Spike's semi moist - they look like kitten biscuits. I find my cats don't eat the hedgehog food.

Alternatively, you can make a hedgehog feeding station out of an old plastic toy box - turn it upside down, cut a hole as an entrance for a hedgehog, put insulating tape or something like it round the sharp edges of the hole and then put it in the garden, upside down. Weigh it down with something to stop a cat flipping it over, and put the hedgehog bowl inside. There are instructions online if you Google it.

Absolutely LOVING all these hedgehog tales - I have one in my garden who became a talisman for my OH through his mental breakdown over the summer - he used to go into the garden at 3am during a panic attack and discovered a hog snuffling around. We had heard him/her under the shed during the evening but never saw her although he/she walked through OH legs and under his chair on more than one occasion!

And yes they are noisy - one evening I heard a rhythmic sound from outside, rather like a drip (worrying) but louder. Further investigation revealed it to be under my car and there was the hog grunting away - apparently he was either having sex or wanted sex and i obv interrupted with my bright torch light wondering what on earth was making the noise

I hope the spiky hate potato has had a restful night and not destroyed the bath in a fit of pique.

I am really anticipating your swan story. I realise that may make me sound like I need to get out more.

(And is anyone getting "Hot Fuzz" flashbacks because it's a story about a swan? "Just the one swan actually")

Morning!

Jumanji is alive and well and about To go to the vets. The bath is unscathed. Partner forgot she was in there and I have had the pure delight of hearing him shout "WHY IS THERE A FUCKING HEDGEHOG IN HERE?"

@Intercity225 thank you, think I’ll get my Blue Peter head on and make a feeding station 😀

OP how’s Jumamji this morning?

@Cathpot I love your story of your fat hog!

Morning! The oxytocin from this thread obviously worked as my waters broke at 4.30am now just waiting for labour to kick in properly.

I've been waiting since you texted him to say she was in the bath to see how that played out! Literally crying laughing.

Good luck at the vets! I'm envisioning a sonic the hedgehog style event where she shoots out the carrier across the room whilst a sea of vets and vet nurses reach out in slow motion trying to catch her. I'm a tad tired lol. Good luck!

So glad that Jumanji is OK! Op, if you need a bucket of slugs delivered it will only take me about 10 mins to round some up, our garden is currently hosting the slug version of Glastonbury apparently.

@WatchOutLurkerAbout

Morning! The oxytocin from this thread obviously worked as my waters broke at 4.30am now just waiting for labour to kick in properly.

I've been waiting since you texted him to say she was in the bath to see how that played out! Literally crying laughing.

Good luck at the vets! I'm envisioning a sonic the hedgehog style event where she shoots out the carrier across the room whilst a sea of vets and vet nurses reach out in slow motion trying to catch her. I'm a tad tired lol. Good luck!

Good luck today!! We need a baby pic when you've popped them out!

Lovely thread.

We had new fencing put in recently and DH asked the fencers to make sure there were holes at the bottom of the panels for the local hedgehogs to get in and out.

The fencers not only didn't shake their heads at this odd request but they also told him very proudly that they had provided a wide stone to serve as a step for the hedgehogs by a panel where the ground fell away steeply.

@YesitsBess

I have very much been checking with hedgehog people? Jumanji is currently in the bath. Because reasons.

This has to be the best post on MN ever

I am jealous (although it sounds like I should perhaps be careful what I wish for). I have lived in my current house for 18 years and never ever seen a hedgepig anywhere close by (though we get other wildlife - millions of squirrels, foxes, badgers, maybe that is why - and people in other parts of town have resident hedgehogs).

@YesitsBess

Morning!

Jumanji is alive and well and about To go to the vets. The bath is unscathed. Partner forgot she was in there and I have had the pure delight of hearing him shout "WHY IS THERE A FUCKING HEDGEHOG IN HERE?"

I laughed out loud at that one! Brilliant!

@WatchOutLurkerAbout

Morning! The oxytocin from this thread obviously worked as my waters broke at 4.30am now just waiting for labour to kick in properly.

I've been waiting since you texted him to say she was in the bath to see how that played out! Literally crying laughing.

Good luck at the vets! I'm envisioning a sonic the hedgehog style event where she shoots out the carrier across the room whilst a sea of vets and vet nurses reach out in slow motion trying to catch her. I'm a tad tired lol. Good luck!

I'm reading you all at work (fat hedgehog made me actually LOL) but oh my!

Good luck today! Me and Jumanji are cheering you on. Well, she's snuffling. Off to vets now after a short delay due to my car being an asshole.

@Intercity225

I have a question for the experts though, I’m concerned mine is too small, I’ve been feeding him every night with hedgehog food and fruit which he loves. I’ve stopped putting cat food out as my greedy cat goes out and eats it!! But how can I fatten him up?

You can buy hedgehog food at Pets at Home, pet shops and garden centres. I think I buy Spike's semi moist - they look like kitten biscuits. I find my cats don't eat the hedgehog food.

Alternatively, you can make a hedgehog feeding station out of an old plastic toy box - turn it upside down, cut a hole as an entrance for a hedgehog, put insulating tape or something like it round the sharp edges of the hole and then put it in the garden, upside down. Weigh it down with something to stop a cat flipping it over, and put the hedgehog bowl inside. There are instructions online if you Google it.

Just to contradict this slightly…

‘Specialist’ hedgehog food is often high cereal/low protein content.

The absolute best food is Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s own brand chicken kitten food. Protein content is approaching 30% and it’s cheap as chips. For comparison, Spike’s protein content is less than 10%

Much better to build a hedgehog feeder so greedy cats can’t get to it.

@ParrotsAteThemAll

I love this thread as I have a hedgehog that’s moved into my garden this year.

I do hope Jumamji is sorted out soon, she sounds a right little character! Mine runs (fast) the other way when I try and get too close!

I have a question for the experts though, I’m concerned mine is too small, I’ve been feeding him every night with hedgehog food and fruit which he loves. I’ve stopped putting cat food out as my greedy cat goes out and eats it!! But how can I fatten him up?

I’ll try and attach a pic so you can see. I did originally think he was a young hog but reading this thread has made think he’s not! 🦔💙

Can you weigh him?

He needs to be, ideally, 650g by early-mid November. If he’s eating high protein food regularly he can put on 20g a day easily

The absolute best food is Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s own brand chicken kitten food.

I find it really hard to get hold of the Tescos kitten food, and the scandal about Sainsbury's cat food put me off that.

(In fact, I've had real problems getting my cat food - the little blighters only like cat food in gravy, and most of them the time, the supermarket shelves only have cat food in jelly)

@H8H8H8 thanks for your reply.

Looks like I’ll need to weigh him, that could be fun as he hates me looking at him let alone trying to catch him! I’ve started feeding him Spikes recently after a huge panic when I’d been feeding him meal worms!! Scared the life out of me when I read how bad they are for hogs!! So I thought I best stick to proper hedgehog food!

So glad for this thread, I’ll be making a feeding station and feeding him cat food now 🦔

@Intercity225

(In fact, I've had real problems getting my cat food - the little blighters only like cat food in gravy, and most of them the time, the supermarket shelves only have cat food in jelly)

Same here! My cat will only eat Sheba in gravy, the only place I’ve found it lately is in Home Bargains. My cat also has the good quality chicken biscuits for senior cats (Iams or the like) I wondered if these would be too rich for a hedgehog?

Hedgehogs are mini garbage disposal units. They are opportunistic feeders with tummies of steel (except milk) so don’t worry about whether food is too rich for them.

Rules to follow…
Highest protein content possible. Aim for 30%
Absolutely no milk. They are very lactose intolerant
Fish is ok… they’re generally not fans of it, but better than nothing.
Contrary to popular belief, if hedgehogs are eating slugs, they are starving. Slugs are a food of last resort for hedgehogs. They often contract lungworm from them which is often fatal.

Ah yes… and no meal worms (although you can get ones that have calcium in them. These are ok)
Meal worms leech nutrients out of their bones which result in fractures.

Bit late to the hedgehog party, was going to suggest the towel sweep, good work. I also keep mine in the bath.

Unless you know your new garden is super hedgehog friendly and so are the neighbours I would take her to a rescue rather than over winter.

Sad flea fact, due to the massive decline in hedgehogs (66% in 13 years) hedgehog fleas are now in decline. So the chances are yours doesn’t have them as she might have not come across another hedgehog to catch them.

Oh quick note for all new hedgehog feeders on this thread please don’t feed hedgehogs fish or duck flavoured catfood it’s too rich for them.

I had no idea they could eat cat biscuits. We have one visit but I don't really want to leave canned food out as we have a big enough problem with cats as it is.