Hedgehog size for hibernation

[Malx]

Since I'm now the proud "owner" of a regular visitor, I thought I ought to try to understand more about the critters, and in particular exactly how to recognise whether a hedgehog is dangerously underweight going into the hibernation season in late autumn.
The literature says that if a hedgehog weighs less than about 1lb, i.e. 450g, then it's not big enough to get through a winter's hibernation.
Fine.

Thing is, I've always been brought up to NOT pick up wildlife gratuitously or for my own amusement if it causes any grief/stress/complications to said wildlife.
So, how can you spot an underweight hedgehog, or guess its weight by sight?

I Emailed the British Hedgehog Preservation Society out of curiosity. A helpful person called Kay Bullen has replied, graciously, even to my slightly flippant remark: "Is it okay to pick up adult hedgehogs (so as to guess their weight)? Am I mistaken to think that chasing a hedgehog around the patio in the dark in November shouting "It's for your own good, you skinny little critter!" is a normal thing to do?"

This was her full reply, which may help others to get a better idea of what to look for.

Hi There

Thank you for your e-mail to the BHPS.

Judging the weight of a hedgehog can be difficult so it is easier to pop it onto weighing scales to be sure. Whenever I am asked about baby hedgehogs I always ask the weight - people (probably myself included) have varying ideas on the size of a cricket ball and melons and the length in inches.

However one good indication is the hedgehogs shape. When it is in a ball it should be nicely rounded - like a cricket ball or football.. If part of the ball is tapered like a rugby ball then it is thin; so the weight does not matter it is thin and needs help.

I know you were only joking with ".... "It's for your own good, you skinny little critter!" ...." but you have answered the question yourself by saying it is skinny. Skinny hedgehogs out in the night need feeding, out in the day they need rescuing.

In the autumn many hedgehogs go into hibernation around the middle of November, those that do not may be underweight and need extra feeding. Those that are underweight and out in the day need to be rescued.

The time to avoid getting your scent on them is if they are still with mum and she may object to a human smell on them, otherwise it is not so important. However it is always best to wear gloves when handling them so as not to get pricked.

We will see about including something on our web site and also including your question in our newsletter.

Many thanks

Kay Bullen
Trustee
British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Hedgehog House
Dhustone
Ludlow
Shropshire SY8 3PL
01584 890801
Registered Charity Number 326885
British Hedgehog Preservation Society BHPS

I know it's the wrong time of year to be bringing this up, but I thought it better to try and get the facts straight before some December morning when I'm dashing out, late for work, only to find some little quarterpounder hedgie knocking on my door.

P.S. Apologies for the length of the post...

[Jez]

Thanks malx for going to all the trouble of posting your informative thread. I'm sure this will be a great aid in the winter months to come!!!

Jez

[valleyforge]

Hi Malx,

Great to have an informative post that not only states the problem ... but also provides the solution.

Keep feeding those hoggies and hopefully you won't have to chase the skinny ones.

[Malx]

Cheers, guys!

My one visitor's in more danger of obesity than wasting away though, I fear...

"He's" a big fellah - note that I'm gender stereotyping it as a "him", since he eats huge quantities of meat, and always leaves his muesli! He's also extremely partial to a dollop of crunchy peanut butter, (ideal for fattening up) so as Autumn approaches I'll make sure any visiting hog leaving the dinner table will have no need of a wafer-thin mint.

FAO Hedgehoggy/any other suitable person: How can you tell the sex of a lone adult hedgehog? (As I say, I'm loth to disturb the fellah's personal space/dignity if at all possible.)

[valleyforge]

Malx,

Can't be done for sure I'm afraid without it disturbing some personal space/dignity.

You'd need to pick the hedgehog up and gently turn him/her over so it is belly-up. Hedgehogs will generally uncurl if you gently rock them head-to-tail whilst in the palm of your hand(s).

In the female hedgehog the anal and vaginal openings are close together just forward of the tail (anus rearmost).

In the mature male, the penis looks a bit like a belly button, around where you might expect a belly-button to be. In very young males this starts out fairly close to the anus, the distance between the two increasing as the hoglet grows. So it is only in very small hoggies that it's quite difficult to tell the sexes apart.

But as you suggested, you can sometimes guess at the sex through their outward characteristics too.

[Malx]

Many thanks, VF. Very informative, and I might check sometime if the opportunity arises.

By the way,

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Hedgehogs will generally uncurl if you gently rock them head-to-tail whilst in the palm of your hand(s).

that's one heck of a cool party-trick you've got there!

[valleyforge]

Originally Posted by Malx

By the way,
that's one heck of a cool party-trick you've got there!

Cheers ... not as popular as 'how to mesmerize a duck', though I'm honour bound not to reveal that.

[pattie may]

You don't need to chase a hedgehog to catch it. I find clapping my hands or making a loudish noise stops them in their tracks. Although sometimes they make a run for it. When startled a hedgehog will put his head down. Easy to pick up then. Be patient.

I also speak quietly (I had two rescued ones over the winter and they were happy with noise (telly and washing machine).

As said before hold the curled hedgehog in both hands and then when he's the right way up (head in air) place him face down on the palm of one hand. Place your other hand over his back and rock him back onto his back. You should see "his bits" or not. There will also be a closed pair of eyes and a nose visible. Garden gloves are a useful thing to have to hand (sorry).

To weigh him put him in a large plastic container on the scales. Record the weight and quickly put the hedgehog near some bushes and his food.

Weight the container and deduct one from the other.

You won't frighten them off and they will come back as long as there is a supply of food. I've got two visiting me now and have put out two dishes of food (which is CJ Hedgehog food, Hedgehog bites by Gardman and dried mealworms). One eats from one dish and one eats from the other. Eaten in the following order - mealworms and nibbles and when I stop putting out those they eat the CJ Hedgehog food.

I stand and watch them for about an hour each night. I love them. Hope I get even more. My garden hedgehogs are a boy and a girl. Hopeful for babies.

[Malx]

Many thanks for that, Patty. Fascinating stuff. I suppose I ought to consider buying specific "hedgehog mix" sometime, though my dinner guest hasn't made a complaint, so far.
It's hilarious how picky mine is though, while still being a greedy.. er.. pig. I've put loads of different foodstuffs in his bowl, and if he doesn't fancy it he'll either leave them or actually remove them from the bowl. Some of the rejected food so far includes fresh raspberries, low-salt ham, high-pork sausage, dried coconut, muesli etc. etc.
Amusingly he also dislikes the brown paper-like coatings on his crushed monkey nuts and leaves them in the bowl.

Gloves seem wise. Yesterday I was stocking his canteen at 10-30pm (after dark here) and opened the lid to stuff the bowl in. I didn't look to see if he'd arrived early, didn't notice him there, and caught my knuckle on one of his spikes.
Happily he stayed and polished off his supper, and my finger stopped bleeding soon after.

One last question, please - you say you watch them - does that mean you can keep a light on and they don't mind?

Thanks.

[Malx]

Sorry - spelt your name wrong, then tried to edit it, then it all went wrong...