Hodgehegs

[Lotobear]

My own perception is these little guys seem to be recovering - I've moved at least 3 from public roads this year in addition to moving a juvenile from the access road to our house a few weeks ago.

Sadly I've also seen numerous road kill over previous months but I guess that, though sad, is also potentially indicative of recovery. In more recent years I've not seen any.

(Cumbria BTW).

Any similar observations from other parts of the UK?

[WrekinCrew]

Two on the trailcam last night (Shropshire):

[AndyC_123]

See noticeably more since the badger cull

[LightningBlue]

Numbers may be recovering especially in urban areas. They get fed with expensive kitten biscuits at mine and have had six in the garden at the same time before. More people seem to be feeding them

[Evanivitch]

Even just councils leaving more set-aside in their grass and verge management plans is helping.

AndyC_123 said:

See noticeably more since the badger cull

And metaldehyde ban.

[Simpo Two]

Evanivitch said:

Even just councils leaving more set-aside in their grass and verge management plans is helping.

It's not done to help hedgehogs of course, they do less maintenance to save money, with the spin-off of an 'eco' badge for not using weedkillers. The roads round here had weeds growing over a foot high in the gutters this year.

[Evanivitch]

Simpo Two said:

It's not done to help hedgehogs of course, they do less maintenance to save money, with the spin-off of an 'eco' badge for not using weedkillers. The roads round here had weeds growing over a foot high in the gutters this year.

The gutters are a different issue, there's been a movement to be somewhat less causal with glyphosate use. Which then leaves councils with quite a few more expensive options.

In many cases it was a waste of money cutting grass purely for the sake of cutting grass anyway. It's not like the clippings were taken away, it wasn't a playing surface and it didn't benefit anyone.

Swansea Council are a good example of genuine investment in wildflower verges, actually taking away cutting, some cases the whole turf layer, and have maintained for several years so far.

[Russet Grange]

They're doing well in our garden, but we leave it pretty wild, and there are indeed plenty of hedges around. Four individuals out there munching on dried cat food right now, but we won't feed them when the rain returns.

Lots of courtship grunting on occasion, so we expect babies this year again.

These two seem to be special friends :-)



(Photo doesn't do them justice, they're all in very good condition, no signs of dehydration and moving well. Nice glossy coats too).

Edited by Russet Grange on Sunday 19th July 22:38