Save Our Hedgehogs!
Discussion
I've seen 5 dead hedgehogs on my walk this morning, none of them looked injured, just lying dead alongside the footpath, no doubt there will be many more out of site.
I'm sure they must have died through dehydration and/or starvation can I please ask people to start leaving out a saucer of water and possibly some wet cat/dog food for them (NOT milk, very bad for them apparently)
I'm sure they must have died through dehydration and/or starvation can I please ask people to start leaving out a saucer of water and possibly some wet cat/dog food for them (NOT milk, very bad for them apparently)
mike74 said:
I've seen 5 dead hedgehogs on my walk this morning, none of them looked injured, just lying dead alongside the footpath, no doubt there will be many more out of site.
I'm sure they must have died through dehydration and/or starvation can I please ask people to start leaving out a saucer of water and possibly some wet cat/dog food for them (NOT milk, very bad for them apparently)
Where is this? All my life I've never seen a hedgehog, dead or alive, and yet there are people who are inundated with the critters. I leave several strategically placed saucers / shallow pots out for various creatures in the garden in the hope of helping / seeing one but alas..I'm sure they must have died through dehydration and/or starvation can I please ask people to start leaving out a saucer of water and possibly some wet cat/dog food for them (NOT milk, very bad for them apparently)
is there a service/organisation where you can rehome one safe in your garden that may be not fit to go free in the wild, eg missing leg, etc, long shot but I am sure one of my husbands clients wife did it. would love to see that in the garden, always had 2 when we were kids that came down the drive for food and drink
Learning a little about these little creatures through my daughter who is now a trained volunteer for the Hedgehog Helpline.
She’s had 4 here so far they don’t half stink or to be fair their crap does! Please do leave out shallow saucers of water and refresh it. A sachet of cat food or cat biscuits goes down well. Try to get neighbours to cut small holes under fences to create hedgehog highways. If you see them out in the daylight it may mean they’re blind (try to find a rescue centre for them), if they are running in circles it can mean they have an ear infestation which can drive them scatty (it would you too).
Pick up with gloves on (they can carry some nasty bugs), put in a box with torn up newspaper enough for them to bury themselves in, water and cat food until you can ring the helpline. Beware of the stink I warn you!
She’s had 4 here so far they don’t half stink or to be fair their crap does! Please do leave out shallow saucers of water and refresh it. A sachet of cat food or cat biscuits goes down well. Try to get neighbours to cut small holes under fences to create hedgehog highways. If you see them out in the daylight it may mean they’re blind (try to find a rescue centre for them), if they are running in circles it can mean they have an ear infestation which can drive them scatty (it would you too).
Pick up with gloves on (they can carry some nasty bugs), put in a box with torn up newspaper enough for them to bury themselves in, water and cat food until you can ring the helpline. Beware of the stink I warn you!
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Absolutley.
Probably repeat a few things. Apols.
Getting a few in the garden last few years, holes cut in the fences. Trail cam to capture them, I say them I think I can identify 4 on one evening. Do put out water. Always water, they drink a lot. Do put out cat or dog food and biscuits. Cut holes in the fence so they can get through. Lift any football nets at night.
No meal worms. Ever. No milk, no bread, no sunflower hearts, no peanuts.
Don't use slug pellets, better not use many pesticides, not just the hogs, birds eat insects as well. Careful with the strimmers and mowers and if that untidy bit under a tree is not doing any harm, why not leave it?
I never handle the ones that come in, I just film them. In the daytime and they are out, they are in trouble and need help.
One of the good few that does good work and has good information.
https://littlesilverhedgehog.com/2019/08/09/find-a...
And another link
https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgeh...
Absolutley.
Probably repeat a few things. Apols.
Getting a few in the garden last few years, holes cut in the fences. Trail cam to capture them, I say them I think I can identify 4 on one evening. Do put out water. Always water, they drink a lot. Do put out cat or dog food and biscuits. Cut holes in the fence so they can get through. Lift any football nets at night.
No meal worms. Ever. No milk, no bread, no sunflower hearts, no peanuts.
Don't use slug pellets, better not use many pesticides, not just the hogs, birds eat insects as well. Careful with the strimmers and mowers and if that untidy bit under a tree is not doing any harm, why not leave it?
I never handle the ones that come in, I just film them. In the daytime and they are out, they are in trouble and need help.
One of the good few that does good work and has good information.
https://littlesilverhedgehog.com/2019/08/09/find-a...
And another link
https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/found-a-hedgeh...
Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 28th August 09:46
The little fella pictured above was one of a pair of siblings (Tiny Tim and Stuart Little) that came to us weighing around 250g. Fed them up for a few weeks and doubled their weight to around 550g. Then they’re moved on to someone with an outside run for a while until they’re released near where they were found.
It’s nice to be able to give them a helping hand.
It’s nice to be able to give them a helping hand.
I've been feeding hedgehogs for ages but was getting a bit teed off cleaning up after them every morning (they crap everywhere when they are eating) so I made one of the feeding stations as described on the Littlesilverhedgehog site:
https://littlesilverhedgehog.com/2016/06/20/build-...
Basically, buy a plastic box (£6.50 from B&Q, but better ones are available), cut a 110mm or 4.5" square hole in one end , line with old newspaper & use a couple of heavy bowls for the food:
The brick on top keeps the pigeons out. It works brilliantly:
In the morning it's the work of a moment to roll up the poopy paper, put a clean sheet of paer in & top up the bowls.
https://littlesilverhedgehog.com/2016/06/20/build-...
Basically, buy a plastic box (£6.50 from B&Q, but better ones are available), cut a 110mm or 4.5" square hole in one end , line with old newspaper & use a couple of heavy bowls for the food:
The brick on top keeps the pigeons out. It works brilliantly:
In the morning it's the work of a moment to roll up the poopy paper, put a clean sheet of paer in & top up the bowls.
We have one that appears in the garden from time to time. But the other week the wife and I were watching telly and I faintly hear the tell-tale noises, muted the TV, opened the patio door / turned on the lights to see two of them having a snuffle off 
Had wondered about feeding them but we have so many cats around I was never sure there was much point leaving out cat food, however I'm loving the feed stations above. Might have to knock one up now
Had wondered about feeding them but we have so many cats around I was never sure there was much point leaving out cat food, however I'm loving the feed stations above. Might have to knock one up now
^^^
I have three feeding stations dotted around. The wooden one in the pic above was on offer from RSPB at the time. The other two are plastic boxes as previous post by Mr Pointy.
Important to leave water as well. Follow the advice on what they can and cannot eat. Watch out for some dedicated hog food sold through the usual suspects, one or two contain stuff that is really harmful.
Trail camera's catch the hog activity if you have one. We tend to get activity all through the dark hours. Some nights though nothing.
BTW may need to obscure the entrance with a brick to prevent puss getting at it but enough to let hoggy in.
I have three feeding stations dotted around. The wooden one in the pic above was on offer from RSPB at the time. The other two are plastic boxes as previous post by Mr Pointy.
Important to leave water as well. Follow the advice on what they can and cannot eat. Watch out for some dedicated hog food sold through the usual suspects, one or two contain stuff that is really harmful.
Trail camera's catch the hog activity if you have one. We tend to get activity all through the dark hours. Some nights though nothing.
BTW may need to obscure the entrance with a brick to prevent puss getting at it but enough to let hoggy in.
Edited by Zirconia on Monday 2nd September 12:09
C0ffin D0dger said:
We have one that appears in the garden from time to time. But the other week the wife and I were watching telly and I faintly hear the tell-tale noises, muted the TV, opened the patio door / turned on the lights to see two of them having a snuffle off
Had wondered about feeding them but we have so many cats around I was never sure there was much point leaving out cat food, however I'm loving the feed stations above. Might have to knock one up now
Please do it very soon. They're trying to fatten up ready for winter so will zoom in on any food you put out. You can feed them dry cat food as well as wet (meaty versions) & I found the kitten versions are preferred as the granules are smaller & hedgehogs don't have big mouths.Had wondered about feeding them but we have so many cats around I was never sure there was much point leaving out cat food, however I'm loving the feed stations above. Might have to knock one up now
The advantage of the plastic box feed stations are that they are easy to clean out (it's important to do that) & you can see them munching away.
Zirconia said:
Important to leave water as well. Follow the advice on what they can and cannot eat. Watch out for some dedicated hog food sold through the usual suspects, one or two contain stuff that is really harmful.
Trail camera's catch the hog activity if you have one. We tend to get activity all through the dark hours. Some nights though nothing.
Which dedicated food is not recommended?Trail camera's catch the hog activity if you have one. We tend to get activity all through the dark hours. Some nights though nothing.
I've noticed my have been out quite early (around 8pm) the last couple of days when it 's not even dark yet.
I forget the name of one of the dodgy 'hog foods. Our visitors happily crunch through a saucer of dry Morrisons Complete Cat Food each night. I made a little feed station from spare timber which stops passing cats eating everything. I have seen mice and birds nipping in to enjoy the buffet though!
Mr Pointy said:
Which dedicated food is not recommended?
I spotted it on twitter and would have to trawl back, stuff with meal worms and sunflower hearts and peanuts in I understand. Not wanting to name and shame as unsure but I use cat food now, just an idea to check ingredients first.I have used Brambles. Spike is another I have used. (Spikes?) They are OK.
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