Another hedgehog thread from that idiot in Gateshead....

[nappadang]

Some of you will probably be thinking this but if 1 hedgehog gets rescued as a result of my wittering then it is worthwhile.
PLEASE remember that any hedgehog out during daylight (probably excluding dusk & dawn) is in distress and needs help. There is a fantastic network of local carers and vets who will happily take on an injured, distressed or dehydrated hedgehog. Most of these can be found on social media or via google etc. Swift intervention always increases the chances of a hog surviving.
In recent weeks Prickly Pals North East has seen all too great a number of unnecessary hog deaths due to people not reporting distressed hogs for 4 or 5 days. No matter how often I witness this, It still upsets and frustrates me as a lot of deaths are easily preventable, if only people are made aware.
Also worth mentioning that if you have a hog population locally and they visit your garden they could do with some water during this dry weather.Some non-fish based catfood wouldn't go amiss either.
most importantly, please try to seek help for any injured or distressed hog, the decline in Britain is alarming.

 

[AndyRM]

In college a mate of mine said that if you saw one in daylight you should pick it up, having covered your hands to protect against tics, and put it in the nearest hedge. Is that true, or was he talking pish?

 

[accountantpete]

I'm afraid I feed our local residents with any fish-based cat food that her majesty turns her nose up at - is it really bad for them?

 

[luckyfox]

Some of you will probably be thinking this but if 1 hedgehog gets rescued as a result of my wittering then it is worthwhile..

Where I live there was an abundance of wildlife wandering around the fields yesterday when it was light, we wondered if this could be a reason.

There's guard dog near where I work practically abandoned but the RSPCA can't do anything unless I can prove she's left alone for more than 24 hours. I feed/give her water every day. They told me not to but she's desperate, poor baby. She's so unhappy in the heat, how can the owner sleep at night??

 

[David Higson]

Our nocturnal visitors have been known to knock the tops off my beer filled slug traps. I presume they like marinated escargot..

 

[Markymark]

Probably entirely the wrong place to post something so insensitive. I heard it on the radio so cannot vouch for it's authenticity.

A woman found a hedgehog in her garden which was lifeless. Her kids asked her to give it a proper burial. As you can probably guess it was only hibernating and it managed to crawl its way out to freedom.

What a lovely end to the story?

Not quite, the mum thought the hedgehog was a zombie from the undead and smashed it over the head with a shovel!

 

[nappadang]

In college a mate of mine said that if you saw one in daylight you should pick it up, having covered your hands to protect against tics, and put it in the nearest hedge. Is that true, or was he talking pish?

Probably not the worst thing you could do but it is probably in need of help if it's out during the day. A possible exception here is if a mother has young,she may forage through the day if she is desperate.

 

[nappadang]

I'm afraid I feed our local residents with any fish-based cat food that her majesty turns her nose up at - is it really bad for them?

If they eat it then it can't be too bad. I think it may be to do with the salt but I'll ask my wife this evening for a more definitive answer.

 

[AndyRM]

Probably not the worst thing you could do but it is probably in need of help if it's out during the day. A possible exception here is if a mother has young,she may forage through the day if she is desperate.

Cheers for the info. I've not seen a hedgehog in a while but now I know what to do if I see one out and about when it should be sleeping!

 

[vernon]

I found a dead hedgehog in the garden pond two nights ago.

Shame it didn't manage to swim to the gently ramped hedgehog exit at the opposite end three feet away.

Still, they are regular visitors to the garden and earlier this year we had five or six scuttling around at dusk.

 

[Rezillo]

There's several in our garden at dusk. The other week, two were going through their grunting and shuffling circling routine and I took a flash photo. Yeeuk!

Warning - picture not for those who don't like ticks.

 

[nappadang]

If they eat it then it can't be too bad. I think it may be to do with the salt but I'll ask my wife this evening for a more definitive answer.

The expert, my wife, assures me it is more to do with sea fish not being a part of a hog's natural diet.
She was stumped when I asked if cow was. Though they do scavenge carrion.

 

[nappadang]

Something else worth considering....

the number of euthanised hogs each year from strimming injuries is awful.

 

[uphillstruggler]

slug terminators - reason enough to save them in my opinion

I hate slugs

 

[theclaud]

Warning - picture not for those who don't like ticks

The folk from the tick appreciation society , on the other hand...