Baby Hedgehog

[BarbaraEmma]

I've just found a baby hedgehog wandering around my garden.He's not wobbling and he seems absolutely fine .I've weighed him and he's around 310gms.
I've put him in our empty plastic recycling box for the moment,but he's scrabbling to get out.I've fed him some chicken cat food and dried meal worms.He started eating them straight away,so he must have been very hungry.all he wants to do now is get out.Should I let him go now,it's only 4.15 or wait until dark,or what?

[BarbaraEmma]

I've just taken this photo

He looks perfectly ok ,but he's wide awake in the middle of the day ,and that is not right,but he's still trying to get out of the box,and I've got to go out in a short while.So I think I'll release him under the bushes in the garden and put plenty of food down for him and just see what happens.
Barbara

PS. He has had a wee and his poo is black ,a bit runny but not too bad.
Barbara

[pattie may]

Hi BarbaraEmma,

Wait until it's dark if you are going to release him. Perhaps you should wait until others on the Forum offer advice before you release him.

Have you had any other hedgehogs in your garden. Are you feeding them? He may be a newly weaned baby on his travels.

[pattie may]

He's quite tiny. Can you put a lid on the box and keep him until it's dark?

[Hedgehoggy]

Hi Barbara, he's probably only recently left home and it is possible he was out in daylight because he has been struggling to find enough food or water, or that his nest was disturbed. To be certain he isn't poorly, continue to leave plenty of food and water in his box and monitor his behaviour AND [importantly] his poop over the next few hours. If, by this evening, you're satisfied that his diurnal activity wasn't due to anything more sinister (and that his poop is normal colour), release him back into your garden at a spot where he will now find a regular food source () - he'll remember this food source and hopefully return. Perhaps you could also rig up a hoggy house in your garden for him too?!

EDIT: All subsequent posts crossed with mine! If you haven't already released him, please keep him in at least until tonight if at all possible and release under cover of darkness. I've witnessed magpies attacking hogs out in daytime : (

[BarbaraEmma]

I've already got 2 hedgehog houses in my garden,the 1 is occupied,but I think the other one is vacant .I have to go out very soon and I will be out quite late ,so I think I'm going to have to put him out now.We've got nice thick low growing bushes so I'll put him under there.


I'm going to try to get back about 9 ish and put him out then ,and then I'll have to go back out.
Barbara

[Pippa]

Good luck B.Hedgehoggy is an expert if ever you need advice.

[Hedgehoggy]

Pippa, you're too kind! I wouldn't call myself an expert, but thanks for the vote of confidence!

[ron1863]

We have recently had a ery welcome Hedgehog in the garden, which feeds on the slugs that come out on our lawn at night. Our garden is enclosed by a fence on three sides and a wall at the bottom of our garden We have been wondering how he got in, I take it that they are good climbers.

[Hedgehoggy]

Indeed they are, Ron, as well as good diggers! Check for the tiniest of gaps under your fencing