Hedgehogs, anybody know much about them?

Miss_Ratty

Nice one! Hopefully hoggie will be ok, and be back in the spring to eat all the slugs and snails that eat people's plants :-)

Froglet

It is actually a fallacy that they prefer slugs and snails.Their main diet is made up of beetles,caterpillars/grubs and worms.When they are in short supply then they will turn to slugs and snails in desperation.Unfortunately that is when they risk becoming ill.Slugs and snails are often infected by the lungworm parasite and that is then transferred to the poor hog and it is likely to eventually kill them by literally clogging up their lungs.Or they will eat poisoned slugs and die a painful death that way.

Hedgehog carers are finding more and more hogs badly infected by this and other types of worms that are easy to cure if found in the early stages.The best way of preventing the downfall and suffering of these endearing creature is to put out food for them,and of course water,especially in hot weather and as the weather turns cold,when food becomes scarce.The link to the hedghog help site gives plenty of different foods that hoggies love.The simplest is either specialist food or just kitten biscuits or wet cat food(not fish based though).

We are losing so many that they are becoming endangered.Only Thursday this week i watched my friend battle to save the lives of 2 very underweight ,starving and cold hoglets and it was horrible.One died, the other is hanging on.Had food been available for them it would have given them a chance to fatten up ready to hibernate.Many will die because they go to sleep with not enough fat on to survive the long winter.

Please spare a thought for these wonderful animals.

Miss_Ratty

Oooh, ouch! I have an allotment and garden organically there, and have always been told that hedgehogs were good for keeping them slug and snail free. I do have a hedgehog house on it, which does have residents sometimes (so I can see during the day but never disturb it). I have had hardly any problems with slugs since they have been there - but do with some beetles? How puzzling. I would never move my residents though, they seem happy enough (I've only ever seen them shuffling out at dusk!).

I agree that they are the most wonderful animals, and beneficial for our environment whatever they eat. Personally I would have done the same as the original poster, as any animal in need deserves to be helped by humans (who as a species have done more harm than good on this planet).

Flower08

Glad you got the hedgehod dropped off ok, hope the poor little thing is ok!

I saw a hedgehog wondering around a few weeks, but OH looked on the internet and was advised if it was dark to leave it because thats when they come out to look for food. The next morning it had been run over (pretty sure it was the same one) I was heartbroken and I still feel guilty that I hadnt rescued it. Poor little thing.

Froglet

Flower,don't feel guilty.You did exactly the right thing,left it where it was because that is where it should have been,at night,foraging for food.Sadly cars are one of it's biggest hazards.At least you now know that only if a hoggie is small,or out in the day,should you pick it up and seek help.

Paradigm

Froglet wrote: »

That is great news Paradigm.Was it Stapely Grange or just a branch centre? i looked at Stapeley Grange but didn't know how far away it might be from you.

Yes, I detoured on my way to Cumbria... I'm sure my company will appreciate that their diesel assisted in hog conservation & if they don't....tough