Hibernating Hedgehog In The Middle Of My Lawn.
Discussion
I've been doing some work in the garden ( new slabbed area, steps etc) and I've been using a plastic tarpauline thing to keep the rain off the slabs.
Anyway, due to my laziness, the tarp has ended up in a pile in the middle of the lawn and has been there for a week or so. Today I went to fold it up and put it away, but when I lifted it from the lawn I found a hedgehog hibernating beneath it.
I say hibernating as it is in a swirled nest of grass that the 'net says is sybolic of hibernation.
I don't really fancy leaving the tarp in a pile in the middle of the lawn until next march, so what do I do?
Wait and see if it clears off if the weather improves, build it a nest box in the corner of the garden and try to put it in it?
Anyone with any experience they'd like to share.
Thanks.
Anyway, due to my laziness, the tarp has ended up in a pile in the middle of the lawn and has been there for a week or so. Today I went to fold it up and put it away, but when I lifted it from the lawn I found a hedgehog hibernating beneath it.
I say hibernating as it is in a swirled nest of grass that the 'net says is sybolic of hibernation.
I don't really fancy leaving the tarp in a pile in the middle of the lawn until next march, so what do I do?
Wait and see if it clears off if the weather improves, build it a nest box in the corner of the garden and try to put it in it?
Anyone with any experience they'd like to share.
Thanks.
Have a look at the British Hedgehog Preservation Society website - there's lots of info there, including a phone number, if you need more advice.
ks, I'm going back to bed!'
This^^^We've hardly had a summer 
It feels to me as though autumn has definitely come early this year: I've noticed that leaves on certain key trees (eg. chestnut) have been yellowing and crisping for a while now, plus there's been a distinct autumnal 'nip' in the air these past few nights.
I'd be surprised if those creatures which are far more finely attuned to nature's signals than we are, weren't taking heed.
It feels to me as though autumn has definitely come early this year: I've noticed that leaves on certain key trees (eg. chestnut) have been yellowing and crisping for a while now, plus there's been a distinct autumnal 'nip' in the air these past few nights.
I'd be surprised if those creatures which are far more finely attuned to nature's signals than we are, weren't taking heed.
Hedgehog has gone. Well, from it's nest anyway.
Lets hope it was just a temporary home.
I've put the tarp away so it won't make another nest under there but I did leave the greenhouse door open last night.
Half of the greenhouse is full of planks of wood which I intend to cut up to make starter wood for the log burner, so it looks like I may have to play a Kerplunk / pick up sticks sort of game when removing it just incase the hedgehog has made a nest under the pile now.
Lets hope it was just a temporary home.
I've put the tarp away so it won't make another nest under there but I did leave the greenhouse door open last night.
Half of the greenhouse is full of planks of wood which I intend to cut up to make starter wood for the log burner, so it looks like I may have to play a Kerplunk / pick up sticks sort of game when removing it just incase the hedgehog has made a nest under the pile now.
Quick update for anyone who is interested.
A few days ago I emptied all of the wood out of the greenhouse and no signs of hog were found.
Just a few minutes ago, hog was seen wandering around the garden so alternative digs have been found (probably under the shed.)
Nice to know he's ok and enjoying the garden.
A few days ago I emptied all of the wood out of the greenhouse and no signs of hog were found.
Just a few minutes ago, hog was seen wandering around the garden so alternative digs have been found (probably under the shed.)
Nice to know he's ok and enjoying the garden.
Final update.
Hedgehog seems to have made itself comfortable under one of the log stores and can be heard if not seen every night having a root about in the graden which is very nice.
The hedgehog preservation society never bothered to reply to my e-mail which is disappointing to be honest.
Hedgehog seems to have made itself comfortable under one of the log stores and can be heard if not seen every night having a root about in the graden which is very nice.
The hedgehog preservation society never bothered to reply to my e-mail which is disappointing to be honest.
Try Tiggywinkles.
Hedgehogs have quite a large territory so may venture off for a few days. Most common problems for hedgehogs are limb injuries and lungworm, these are quite debilitating so if he is active etc he sounds fine. They eat cat food though there is a hedgehog food available (at least there used to be) called Spikes Hedgehog food - I think, if you want to encourage him to stay around more. It's a tinned food.
Quite like hearing a hedgehog in the garden, can be really noisy though, especially if two of them start squabbling
eta
http://www.spikesworld.co.uk/spikes_products.html
Seems they do stil indeed exist, come on a bit since I used to buy it!!, no longer in tins it seems
Hedgehogs have quite a large territory so may venture off for a few days. Most common problems for hedgehogs are limb injuries and lungworm, these are quite debilitating so if he is active etc he sounds fine. They eat cat food though there is a hedgehog food available (at least there used to be) called Spikes Hedgehog food - I think, if you want to encourage him to stay around more. It's a tinned food.
Quite like hearing a hedgehog in the garden, can be really noisy though, especially if two of them start squabbling
eta
http://www.spikesworld.co.uk/spikes_products.html
Seems they do stil indeed exist, come on a bit since I used to buy it!!, no longer in tins it seems
Edited by bexVN on Monday 10th September 21:19
Hedgehog food. What will they think of next.
Yeah, it's nice having it around but it is free to come and go as it pleases.
I leave a stainless steel bowl of water at the top of the garden for local cats etc to have a drink of water from and it certainly makes a racket when it overturns that.
Yeah, it's nice having it around but it is free to come and go as it pleases.
I leave a stainless steel bowl of water at the top of the garden for local cats etc to have a drink of water from and it certainly makes a racket when it overturns that.
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