Hedgehogs still active.

[LynM]

We still have a very active hedgehog in our garden this autumn. Is it unusual for them to be on the go in mid November? I'm sure that I don't remember it happening in recent autums.

[The Woodman]

I think it's all weather dependant. I saw a freshly killed Hedgehog on the road in Harrogate yesterday.

It's very wet but mild up here in Cumbria, currently 12 degrees C and I noted slugs on the path last night.

[2dogs2000]

I also have a hedgehog still visiting. The weather here has been quite bad but he still comes for his nightly feed.

[LynM]

Obviously not just the Dorset ones that are still about then! Guessed that temperature had something to do with it and we've not had much in the way of cold weather yet.

[BarbaraEmma]

I picked up another hedgehog at 9.00 o'clock last night ,he was wandering about on a busy road and looked quite small .I took him in and weighed him he was just under 800 gms.and looked healthy so I've put him out in my garden .That makes him the third one out there.I fed him straight away on some chicken scraps and he ate the lot.When I could see he'd finished eating I put him in an empty hog house with lots of fresh straw.I left him another dish full of food outside.
I checked this morning and the food is gone,don't know whether he's still around but I'll keep the dish full just in case.I've done the trick with twigs by the entrance to see if there is any movement in or out.
The other two residents are cutched up for winter.Barbara

[Dragonfaer]

Hi all so glad I found this thread. First I want to say a big thank you to this site as if I hadnt found it 6 hedgehogs would have died.
Being in the southern hemisphere it is late spring here and I have a mother hedgehog who made a nest under a tarp covering some wood and had 5 babies. I found the nest by accident and kept an eye on it. The mother started appearing during the mornings and was rather worried about it. This site gave me the info I needed to give Mum hedgehog the right type of food to help her survive and feed her babies. Gave her chicken in gravy cat food last night as well as sultanas and raisins and she scoffed the lot. Babies eyes are now open and they are really growing. I think she is sleeping elsewhere now and nips in once during day and then spends part of the night with them before departing again. Think she is trying to get them to sleep throught the day and be awake more at night, preparing them for when they get older.I do worry that she might get killed and then I would have the job of raising the babies somehow, so was pleased to see the comment about goats milk etc.
Thanks for that. Will keep you posted with the wee family's progress.

[Marcia]

Dragonfaer, welcome to WaB and well done for helping the hog family. One thing that concerns me is that the babies are too young for this time of year. Hedgehogs need to be at least 800g at this time of the year in order to survive the hibernation and those babies are certainly below that weight. So, I'd suggest you to contact your nearest hedgehog rescue center for advice in this link here:

Hedgehog Carers

The main risks are:
1) Mum goes on hibernation or dies and stops providing food for them
2) Babies leave nest and won't survive the icy winter
3) Babies go on hibernation without enough fat reserves to stay alive and die afterwards

So it's crucial that you contact the experts while the family is still together and can still be rescued and saved. You've done very very well so far, now you need to consider their welfare and their future. Hopefully everything will be fine.

Good luck.

Marcia.

[LynM]

Marcia....Dragonfaer has said that they are in the southern hemisphere and therefore at the end of spring beginning of summer, so your concerns about hibernating are not relevant in this case.

[Marcia]

Oh, I missed that bit. Sorry. Ignore my post then.

[ronscams]

This week the BHPS have sent out emails saying the minimum weight of a hedgehog going into hibernation should 450g, as a hog carer I wont release hogs less then 600g,

Rons Hedgehogs - Home