Just found a hedgehog on our drive
Discussion
We have a couple that come into the conservatory during the evening.The dog usually finds them at bedtime and they are put back outside,usually into the neighbours garden as we had one find its way into our pond last year.Unfortunately he was only fit for the dustbin by the time I had found him.
eharding said:
B15TT0 said:
I saw autumnwatch and they were going on about hedgepigs. If you find one weigh it - over 600grams = happy days for mr spikey as he's got enough fat reserves to get through the winter. If he's less than 600g he needs feeding up so give him some dog food. I guess not every little pig wants to be weighed constantly by concerned humans so it's probably best to just feed them if they look small. If they're out in daylight it's because they're underweight and getting some extra feeding time. So feed those ones too. Basically just feed all hedgehogs.
However well meaning, this "feed all hedgehogs" regardless of weight approach has been open to abuse.You still need to weigh the hedgehog. If it comes in at more than 10kg, then what you've got there isn't a hedgehog, it's a Labrador in a spikey ghillie suit, attempting to cash in on the "free dog food for hedgehogs" offer.
Excellent.
B15TT0 said:
I saw autumnwatch and they were going on about hedgepigs. If you find one weigh it - over 600grams = happy days for mr spikey as he's got enough fat reserves to get through the winter. If he's less than 600g he needs feeding up so give him some dog food. I guess not every little pig wants to be weighed constantly by concerned humans so it's probably best to just feed them if they look small. If they're out in daylight it's because they're underweight and getting some extra feeding time. So feed those ones too. Basically just feed all hedgehogs.
Best thing I learnt though was that when they hibernate hedgehogs aren't actually sleeping. They have to 'wake' themselves up to nip to the loo AND to have a snooze. Bizarre. Having to wake up to go to sleep!
Yup, leave some food out. Back in my youth, we kept a few underweight ones through the winter. Gave them a box in the shed full of straw or newspaper, a supply of dog food and water, worked a treat.Best thing I learnt though was that when they hibernate hedgehogs aren't actually sleeping. They have to 'wake' themselves up to nip to the loo AND to have a snooze. Bizarre. Having to wake up to go to sleep!
Last time we saw a hedgehog in the garden he'd just been chased into the pond by one of these chaps below and was squeeling his head off whilst swimming circles in the middle. We rescued him and haven't seen a hedgehog since - quite wisely on their part as the badgers come every night 
They didn't actually realise I was there. Surprisingly stupid things badgers, stand still and don't make any noise and they are quite oblivious to your presence (I am rather good at wildlife stalking mind - like a ninja).
I will check the mashed potato thing but they seem to eat pretty much anything I throw at them so I'm sure they'd happily wolf down some mash
I will check the mashed potato thing but they seem to eat pretty much anything I throw at them so I'm sure they'd happily wolf down some mash
J-c said:
Few more i have found badgers sorry for the highjack on the hedgehog thread
Can you do me a favour next time they come into your garden. Can you lure them into a bag and video how mad they get. I've often wondered just HOW mad a bag of badgers is? 
Even better if you have a pond and some frogs and a box; so we could compare the two relative states of mad.
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