Dead Hedgehog in my Pond!

[Bouncytigger]

I was really upset this morning to find a dead hedgehog floating in one of my small garden ponds

I have plenty of rocks round the edge as a perch for birds squirrels etc i guess maybe he went for a drink and just lost his balance maybe?

Is this A COMMON occurence and is there anything i can to to prevent this sort of thing happening again?

Many Thanks Buddy Bears

Bouncy

[NickCantle]

That's a shame I don't know how you can prevent it but I've known of it happening to people couple of times in the past- so I wouldn't say it's common, but probably more frequent than you think

[vole-woman]

I've put a ramp-with-bars leading into mine made of untreated wood (the sort of thing you might get going into a rabbit hutch). I made it out of lengths of mouding nailed onto a wide plank. You could knock one up in half an hour.

It's a sad story, Bouncy, but don't beat yourself up about it now it's happened. Just get that ramp in place as soon as poss.

[Dogghound]

Yes as previously said a ramp would be the best way of avoiding this in the future, they are good swimmers but do become tired and drown if there is no way out. It can be a quite frequent event.

[ogwen]

Yeah we have a ramp in our pond, just an old bit of wood really. Although once i caught a cat perched awkwardly on it trying to catch the fish funny watchin it try to get off it though

[Bouncytigger]

Thanks everyone so far for your friendly advice and ideas!

The ramp sounds a good possibility but i was wondering if i might be better removing the rocks that edge the pond and use turf and wildlife attracting plants as edging as i have done with my other pond that has adequate shelving ,as this would mean that any hedgehogs would be able to ease themselves easily away from the waters edge when going for a drink?:

[Bouncytigger]

Mmmm decided to go for that option.

just found some old pond baskets in the shed

i DON'T WANT IT HAPPENING AGAIN TONIGHT

[vole-woman]

Yes, a natural gradual slope is better even than a ramp, but we didn't know about leaving a gradual slope when we built our pond.

[Bouncytigger]

Well i've settled for a compromise Vole-Woman

i've just been out and made TWO MINI RAMPS and some SLOPING EDGES

so hopefully NO MORE BODDIE IN THE BOG!!

It Really shook me up i can tell you

Here we are are trying to conserve wildlife and it ends up DROWING IN YOUR POND!!!

i HADN'T EVEN SEEN A HEDGEHOG IN MY GARDEN FOR YEARS so hopefully they will be a more common site and drink without fear or drowning!!!

[vole-woman]

Well done, BT.