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Hedgehogs in garden

(8 Posts)
Jalima1108 Wed 25-Jul-18 14:27:18

We used to have a couple of hedgehogs visiting our garden very late at night - they would activate the outside security light and we could peer out and see them toddling up the garden. However, sad to say that we haven't seen them lately.

I did read somewhere that they do like to visit gardens with a pond for a drink, especially in this hot weather I would think, and saw a tip which said to ensure that you have a sloping edge, a plank or ramp of wire they can climb out if they fall in.

When they do go to hibernate they may choose a compost heap or twigs etc stacked up for a bonfire, so check first before setting the bonfire alight.

I must ask my neighbour if she has had any, as they rescued some last year.

Grandad1943 Wed 25-Jul-18 12:56:56

Thanks for the link and other postings. Where we live in North Somerset it has become very rare to see Hedgehogs these days, so to have possibly two in our garden is wonderful.

It is said that the terrible floods we had down here in Somerset a few years ago devastated an already weakened population. So, seeing them in our garden makes us hope that they are growing in numbers again hopefully.

baubles Wed 25-Jul-18 09:13:49

Thanks for that link Elegran. We’ve got a hedgehog in our garden but hadn’t thought about it wandering further afield.

jusnoneed Wed 25-Jul-18 09:10:31

A couple years ago it was lovely to have a family of hedgehogs visit, parents and three babies. They came under the fence from neighbours every evening. My son and myself would sit out on the patio and watch them. They loved peanuts, I think it was the ones dropped from the bird feeder that first attracted them, and would put a handful on the ground which they soon cleared. A low sided dish of water too. They would mooch around for an hour or so then back under the fence and off home.
We also had one that lived under our wooden shed for a few years but haven't seen any of them for a couple of years, I think the other neighbours having three dogs doesn't help.
My friend buys special hedgehog food for hers, also the birds peanuts get eaten.

Elegran Wed 25-Jul-18 09:01:31

youtu.be/1ozSXdYrd8k

downtoearth Wed 25-Jul-18 08:05:05

grandad I thought I was the only one that named my cat Jeffery,shortend to Jeff when my children where growing up grin...we where watching and feeding the tiggywinkles last night too

MawBroon Wed 25-Jul-18 07:57:33

We see loads both in the garden as we are on a “hedgehog run” between the farm orchard behind us and a “nest” in a neighbouring garden, and out on Hattie’s bedtime walk.
She is learning to ignore them but I will sometimes catch her barking at one in the garden.
I have little containers of water out under the hedges and shrubs. Can’t leave food as Hattie would snarf it like a shot.

Grandad1943 Wed 25-Jul-18 07:33:40

With the very warm weather on a evening, we have taken to sitting in what we call the garden room or just outside on the patio. Two nights ago I was on the patio listening to some music when suddenly Jeffery our cat shot forward into some garden shrubs then very quickly shot back out again.

I did not take to much notice just calling Jeffery over to make sure he was alright, then after a few minutes a small hedgehog emerged from the shrubs and headed up towards the garden shed.

I called to my wife and we both watched as it moved away into the growing darkness. We were sat there chatting about the experience when what we are fairly sure was a second one came up the garden from our pond and made the same journey as the first. It is a very large garden so its just possible that the first had come back down out of sight and then returned the same way, but unlikely we think.

We have started putting out dry cat food for them on a evening and have seen them individually several times since. Jeffery seems now to have learned to stay well away and just watch as they pass by him.

However, I am wondering if there is any more we can do to help these lovely but endangered animals.

Any advise would be welcome.