Hedgehogs and other wild animals need water this weather

Snakes_Belly

Please could people leave a dish of water (not milk) out for hedgehogs and other wild animals and birds. West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue are receiving hedgehogs that are very dehydrated and are not surviving. It is a small thing to do and will help to save a species. Thank you.   

https://www.facebook.com/wmhoglethero/videos/447287170259212

Thumbs_Up

See my post below. I keep water for hedgehogs, and a water bath for birds and every other creature that wants a drink. Water is replenished every two days. Also water-can parts of the lawn so the hedgehogs can get a bit of respite from the heat i.e. laying on the moist ground.

fire**fly

we have ground water bowls that are replenished daily for hedgehogs,foxes,badgers that visit each night & feeders, water baths for birds or any other animal that visits the garden each day or night, please also remember to also put a few pebbles/stones above the water line in the ground water bowls/bird baths in case of bees/ladybirds having a drink  even though birdbaths are typically shallow, they can still be dangerous for bees who fall in.

Bees can’t swim. so if you don’t add any landing perches like marbles/pebbles to your birdbath, then sadly you can find find  drowned bees or ladybirds.

Snakes_Belly

Thanks for your responses. Some of the hedgehogs are feeding litters of six hoglets so they will need to keep very hydrated. 

https://www.facebook.com/wmhoglethero/videos/591147532374218

Below is a very small hoglet. 
https://www.facebook.com/wmhoglethero/videos/1501651176937904

The rescue centre does a wonderful job but at the moment they are losing ones that are coming in very dehydrated.

fire**fly

big thanks for links Snakes_Belly  fingers crossed the message gets across for everyone to help them.

Thumbs_Up

fire**fly said:

fingers crossed the message gets across for everyone to help them.

Only 65 views, i'll bump it up to the top....

Snakes_Belly

Thumbs_Up said:

fire**fly said:

fingers crossed the message gets across for everyone to help them.

Only 65 views, i'll bump it up to the top....

Thanks,

Joan who runs a hedgehog rescue centre does an amazing job of caring for these hedgehogs that are bought into her. Once they are well enough they are released back into the wild because they are not pets they are wild animals. The one that she keeps called "Rosie" is blind and cannot be released into the wild. 

Rosie is a bit of a "gal". She has had two litters from male hedgehogs that have been bought into the rescue centre.    

TBagpuss

Yes - I have a small water feature in my garden and see a lot of birds drinking from it (unfortuantely it tends to trip the fuse when on too long in hot weather so it won't be on all day, but will be on all the time I ahome.

Have also topped up the normal drinking bowls and filled a large bucket and put upturned flowerpots inside to make a makeshift birdbath/drinking disk - hopefully large enough the that water won't get too hot.

In light of the recent weather and the forecast I've  also delayed gardening and  cutting back the nettles in my garden to leave larger areas where there is plenty of ground cover / shade .

I know we have t least one visting hedghog so hope this will all help

HumberFlyer

I always leave water out for Harry ( the hedgehog).... not seen him for a day or two.... Why.... just found him dead. He's walked up a piece of old decking and fallen /jumped into an empty plant pot down the side of house. Even on his hind legs he was an inch or two from the top..... and his escape was impossible.............. I'm really sad about that.

Snakes_Belly

HumberFlyer said:

I always leave water out for Harry ( the hedgehog).... not seen him for a day or two.... Why.... just found him dead. He's walked up a piece of old decking and fallen /jumped into an empty plant pot down the side of house. Even on his hind legs he was an inch or two from the top..... and his escape was impossible.............. I'm really sad about that.

It may be that he was blind. They are sometimes pecked at by crows. They have quite a hard life and the numbers have decreased rapidly. I would still carry on leaving water out as there are bound to be others about. They are nocturnal so not often seen in the day. 

Snakes_Belly

https://www.facebook.com/wmhoglethero/videos/1982366045298796

This is a small hoglet that Joan has just fed and has fallen asleep on her hand.