What noises do hedgehogs make?

pattie may · #1 (**permalink**) 21-08-2009, 10:25 PM

I had a new hedgehog visit my garden tonight. It is not a baby although it did have some white spines mixed in with the brown ones. It was very verbal as it left the garden. It made what can only be discribed as a cooing sound. Perhaps calling to others? An hour or so later I heard a rhythmical rasping sound - perhaps snoring - coming from underneath a large prickly bush in my front garden. Any ideas what the sound were?

Words · #2 (**permalink**) 21-08-2009, 10:38 PM

There will no doubt be some hedgehog experts along shortly, but I hear those rasping or snorting sounds a lot with our hedgehogs, usually when there are two of them together. I also hear the odd crunch when they grab a snail

dlcm · #3 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 12:18 PM

Hello,

I have heard similar noises coming from under my garden shed during the early evening, after a quick search I found a video on You tube which may help....

YouTube - Hedgehogs making disturbing noises

I was concerned that the noises were coming from rats? Is this a possibiity.

We get a lot of wildlife in our garden, squirrels, rabbits, bats, foxes etc but I haven't seen any hedgehogs or rats(thankfully). It would be great to see the spiky little fella's.

pattie may · #4 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the link.

It was a hedgehog. I have had them in my garden for about eighteen months now. The hedgehog wasn't moving around. It was just making a sound. It sounded like snoring.

pattie may · #5 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 10:51 PM

I have put food out for the hedgehogs tonight and some of it has been eaten. Not seen the hedgehog but have heard a strange noise coming from the bushes at the bottom of my garden. It was like wimpering. Would it be from a hedgehog?

Hedgehoggy · #6 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 11:01 PM

Hi Pattie, I've not heard a hedgehog 'whimpering' as such. Could you go back out with a torch and investigate? Hedgehogs make a vast array of noises, eg whilst foraging, eating, courting, mating, fighting, injured or distressed. Most of which are inexplicable unless you're a hedgehog!

Hedgehoggy · #7 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlcm

Hello,

I have heard similar noises coming from under my garden shed during the early evening, after a quick search I found a video on You tube which may help....

YouTube - Hedgehogs making disturbing noises

I was concerned that the noises were coming from rats? Is this a possibiity.

We get a lot of wildlife in our garden, squirrels, rabbits, bats, foxes etc but I haven't seen any hedgehogs or rats(thankfully). It would be great to see the spiky little fella's.

The link wouldn't open for me

pattie may · #8 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 11:06 PM

I did at the time. I went under the bushes (they are tall and there is a gap behind them). Couldn't see a thing. Did use a torch but couldn't see what was making the noise.

Hedgehoggy · #9 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 11:11 PM

One possibility could have been a 'temporarily estranged' baby out with mum and siblings on a nightly forage who hadn't kept up with his family. It's calls would have alerted mum, who would have returned for him.

pattie may · #10 (**permalink**) 28-08-2009, 11:17 PM

I thought that I but haven't seen any small hedgehogs at all. I have two hedgehogs that visit my garden regularly and they are both males. The female was run over a couple of weeks ago.

It's a mystery. I have been out in the garden since I heard the noise and it's all quiet now (except for the rain dripping off the trees). I have put more food out as some more has been eaten.