Hedgehogs in the garden

[Pimpernel]

Does anyone know anything about hedgehogs?

Dp regularly puts out catfood in our back garden for the feral cats, but we've recently discovered that it's being eaten by a family of hedgehogs as well (a mother and three young ones).

We think they're living in a heap of dead plant material at the bottom of the garden. It was supposed to be a compost heap, but has too much woody matter in it. We'd really like to clear it away now, but don't want to disturb the hedgehogs. Any ideas on what we can do? Can we give them an alternative home?

Thanks.

If you call the RSPCA they can give you advice on where and when you can move them. Maybe if the babies are small you might have to wait a while.

try www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/.
there is a phone number etc they might be able to give some advice too.

Hedgehogs are hopeless parents. They forget where they left the babies and don't bother looking for them. They are not very good at keeping house either, prefering to just move every few days instead.

Thanks for these - I'll try making a couple of phone calls. They've been coming for a few weeks now, so I'm not sure if they're moving on or not. Hope the mum doesn't go leaving the babies behind!

They might just move a short distance it's just that they don't keep their den clean, they poo in it etc, then move on. We found some kids using a tiny one as a football once. Took it in and rang a vet. Because it only weighed 100g we had to keep it and feed it up ready for release when it got to 500g. It chewed it's way out of the home we had made and wandered off when it got to that size. Really stinky it was.

they also ALL have the most fantastic amount of fleas, in case you get broody and start cuddling one of the babies. eughghgh

They are quite unappealing close up really.