Hedgehogs still active.

LynM · #1 (**permalink**) 18-11-2009, 10:12 PM

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 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-11-2009, 08:56 AM

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 · #3 (**permalink**) 19-11-2009, 08:39 PM

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

LynM · #4 (**permalink**) 19-11-2009, 09:22 PM

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 · #5 (**permalink**) 20-11-2009, 08:50 PM

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 · #6 (**permalink**) 25-11-2009, 07:13 AM

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 · #7 (**permalink**) 25-11-2009, 09:32 AM

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 · #8 (**permalink**) 25-11-2009, 02:22 PM

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 · #9 (**permalink**) 25-11-2009, 03:07 PM

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

ronscams · #10 (**permalink**) 27-11-2009, 04:16 PM

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

Dragonfaer · #11 (**permalink**) 28-11-2009, 10:26 AM

Thank you for all your comments. Not putting any food out in the mornings now as Mum hedgehog not really eating much. Put plenty out at night and its all gone the next day. She much prefers cheese to sultanas and raisins it seems. So will just her those occassionally. The babies doing fine. Had to move a couple of them today as they had strayed a wee bit from their nest and were near a puddle of water. Yes it rained heavily most of the day. They can really curl up tight now and all you can see is their little faces tucked in.
I use a thick gardening glove to pick them up so my scent isnt on them and also so I dont get pricked.

Jez · #12 (**permalink**) 02-12-2009, 05:51 AM

It was quite mild here last night in Bewdley but the previous night was cold one, down to 0c and I woke up to see a deep frost had set in. Looking out of the window I could see the bird feeders wanted filling as the tits were scrambling to get the last remaining fat balls so I went out to give them seed fatballs & peanuts. It was at the feeders that I noticed the squizzels had managed to unscrew the peanut feeder which was lying on frozen ground, I went to pick it up and noticed there was a little hoggy trapped inside the feeder

. Quickly I found a box to put it in, grabbed a towel and some catfood put in a warm place and phoned around and managed to get intouch with the our local hedgehog lady, Helen, for some advice and help, I still wasn't sure if it was alive or dead at this point! I managed to unscrew the base of the feeder as if it was alive and perked up it's quills would prevent it from crawling backwards out the way it first crawled in. Helen unfortunately couldn't get out to me as she was ill and I couldn't get to her as I was waiting on second attempt of some important documentation so cutting the hoggy free was a real consideration at the time, but I'm sure it over heard me mentioning this and it's little nose picked up, it's bottom did a little wiggle and like I hoped it carried on up the feeder and out the otherside (What a relief that was "phew"!!!!

) Helen on the other end of the phone was delight also and asked I get it a waterbottle put on some thick gloves and weigh it whilst popped the bottle in the box. It was a mere 380g so yep like I say a big relief indeed, what a lucky mite it was for making it through the night, stuck in a icy cold metal cage (brrrrrrr).

Fortunately my brother popped by and took it over to Helens who now has it in her care. I hope there comes the day when I can release back out and in the meantime I'm going to be doing all I can to prevent the squizzels getting at that feeder.

I'd just ike to say well done and a big thankyou to all the people who give up their time to look after poor and injured animals. It really is a great job your here to help!

Dragonfaer · #13 (**permalink**) 02-12-2009, 07:12 AM

Well done Jez. So glad you managed to save the wee hedgehog. I just wish we had some place to take hedgehogs to. Am in New Zealand and have bad news regarding my wee family of hegehogs. Put some food out for mum tonight and found one baby dead so now there is only 4. The baby was stretched out and another was stretched out beside it I think trying to keep it warm. I picked that one up and it promptly curled up tight so put it back in the nest with the other 3. The two babies had strayed from the nest and I think got too cold as it poured down most of the day. Just hope the other one survives. Left the dead baby out of the nest but where mum could see it when she comes home tonight so she would know it had died. Will bury it tomorrow.

Hedgehoggy · #14 (**permalink**) 02-12-2009, 08:49 AM

Gosh, Jez, that’s one lucky little hedgehog indeed! Well done with your quick actions and thank goodness you went out to refill the feeders. Hope you get him/her back in the spring to release into your garden

Dragonfaer, can you be absolutely certain mum is still around? Have you seen her recently? Although inquisitive babies will often crawl out of their nest, they’re usually ushered back in again by mum who is never too far away that she can’t hear their cries. Generally, babies found outside their nest like this are more likely to be starving and are searching for mum. The dead hoglet found outside the nest is suggestive this could be what’s happening. Can you hear the hoglets ‘squeaking/cheeping’’? If something has happened to mum, the babies will need to be taken into care immediately.

Whether mum is still around or not, remove the dead hoglet as it won’t be long before it becomes fly blown and could put the other hoglets at risk of disease.

Hedgehoggy · #15 (**permalink**) 02-12-2009, 09:31 AM

Dragonfaer, just in case you do need to rescue the remaining 4 hoglets, the following organisation in NZ should be able to help and put you in touch with a local carer:

Hedgehog

I also found this list of NZ SPCAs who may also be able to help:

RNZSPCA - Local SPCAs

Dragonfaer · #16 (**permalink**) 04-12-2009, 10:12 AM

Hedgehoggy thank you soooo much for your feedback. Really appreciated.
I disposed of the baby the next morning so there was no problem with flies. Mum had been and pushed it around a bit so knew it was dead. Well, I presume mum is coming at night as the food is all gone each morning. Yes, I stepped in tonight and rescued the 3 remaining babies (found 1 more dead tonight and the other 3 werent looking too good. Got goats milk but couldnt get a syringe anywhere at 8.30pm. Will try the vet tomorrow. The babies have picked up a bit but 1 is rather dehydrated. Many thanks for the contacts here in NZ. Spoke with a lady from Taupo which a 3 hr drive from here which was helpful. She has Hedgehog Haven & very knowledgeable. Have heating under their box now to help keep them warm. Newspaper in the box then a towel folded in half, then the babies and the other half of the towel over them. Have managed to get a wee bit of milk into them but rather difficult with a plastic spoon. Oooops was giving them straight goats milk but she said 2 parts to 1 part water is best. Feeding them what I can roughly every hour. Feel rather doubtful about the outcome of this wee family.

Marcia · #17 (**permalink**) 04-12-2009, 11:05 AM

Hi Dragonfaer, I just want to say well done for rescuing the hoglets. You're doing great helping them, I hope they all survive. Let us know how it went in the vet. Best of luck, all my fingers crossed.

Jez, well done you too! Lucky for the hoglet you were there to save him and take such good care of him when he needed most.

Hedgehoggy · #18 (**permalink**) 04-12-2009, 02:41 PM

I’m really sorry to hear about the 2nd hoglet, Dragonfaer. Regards mum, unless you’ve actually seen her recently, it could well be that another animal is eating the food you’ve been leaving out for her, hence the situation with the hoglets. But, if you have seen mum, she could possibly be injured or poorly as to the reason for neglecting her hoglets. Keep a lookout for mum, and if you see her, pick her up and check her over thoroughly for any injuries (including checking she has all four limbs – often overlooked), and for fly eggs, etc.

As for feeding the babies, if their eyes are open, they may well be able to lap the milk themselves from a coffee jar lid, or similar. You’d need to support their bodies by holding them over the lid in order to lap, so they don’t climb into the lid splashing the contents everywhere! You may also need to ‘toilet’ them still at this age (mum would do this in the wild).

I’ve copied the following useful info from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society’s website:

HYGIENE
It is important that the hoglets, their bedding and feeding equipment are kept scrupulously clean. The bedding should be changed regularly and the feeding equipment sterilised. See 'After Feeding' for keeping the hoglets clean. After dealing with each hoglet, hands should be washed.
WEIGH the Hoglets regularly and chart their growth.

HOW TO FEED THEM:

ONE WEEK OLD weighs about 28-56gms [1-2oz] and 50-l00mm [2-4"] in length) These tiny hoglets have no teeth and their eyes and ears will be closed. They will need to be fed every two to three hours on 1-2mls Goats' milk diluted 2:1 with water, and vitamin drops added; or Goats' colostrum. A plastic pipette, icc syringe or doll's feeding bottle can be used to feed them with. Each hoglet should be held on its back in the hand and fed slowly, taking care not to get milk up its nose or in its lungs.

AFTER FEEDING it is important that you massage each hoglet's tummy with a brush or tissue - mum would do this in the wild to stimulate bladder and bowel movements (very young hedgehogs cannot do this for themselves, unaided). Droppings, on arrival, should be bright green, but on a diet of goats' milk should change to pale greenish/blue. Carefully clean the hoglet's mouth, face and tummy with damp cotton wool and gently massage with baby oil, especially inside the back legs and around the tail area.

TWO WEEKS OLD (weighs about 56-85gms [2-3oz] and 70-130 mm [3-5"] in length). Eyes will probably still be closed but could open soon. Earholes begin to appear. Feeding should be increased to 3-5ml every 3-4 hours.
AFTER FEEDING clean and toilet as before.

THREE WEEKS OLD (Weighs about 85-1l3gms (3-4oz]) Eyes now open and teeth beginning to appear. Can now be encouraged to lap milk from a shallow dish. When lapping successfully, liquidized puppy food and milk could be offered. Hand feeds should continue.
AFTER FEEDING clean and toilet as before.

FOUR WEEKS OLD (Weighs about 113-170gms [4-6oz]) Now looks like a mini-adult hedgehog. Gradually decrease the milk in the liquidized puppy food and eventually give the puppy food on its own, but mashed. Droppings will now become brown, firm and smelly. When the hoglet is no longer taking milk, offer a dish of water (would now be accompanying mum on foraging trips if still in the wild). When the hoglet is weaned worming should be considered. Panacur powder (available from your vet) is recommended, 110mg/500gm sprinkled on food over three meals, and then repeat in two weeks.
AFTER FEEDING clean as before but toiletting can be reduced and stopped altogether when the hoglet copes unaided.

FIVE WEEKS OLD (weighs about 190-225gms [7-8oz]). Should now be eating twice daily: a dish of mashed or liquidized puppy food with added vitamins and cereal. New flavours can be experimented with, such as: chicken, lightly scrambled egg, a little grated cheese, banana. Heat will not now be necessary in the summer but adequate bedding should be provided.

SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS OLD (weighs about 225-310gms [8-11oz]). Now eating one tablespoon of mashed puppy food and cereal twice daily with added vitamins and minerals, and a dish of water.

EIGHT WEEKS OLD (weighs about 350gms [12oz]) Should now be eating adult cat or dog food twice daily, and given a vitamin and mineral supplement once weekly. Natural food can be introduced, such as slugs, snails and worms. Foraging expeditions in the garden can be undertaken. Shredded newspaper, straw or paper tissues can be given for nesting materials to encourage the youngster(s) to build their own nests.

N.B. The foregoing weights, ages and amounts are approximate and for use only as a guideline. Like all young mammals, each hoglet's development will vary individually.

Good luck and I wish you every success with this little family.

Dragonfaer · #19 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 04:54 AM

Hey guys thanks sooo very much for all your support.

More bad news I'm afraid. A baby died in the night which left 2. Managed to get syringe feeders from the vet today, they couldnt help me regarding the babies though. Got home & found I had one baby left. The dehydrated one died while I was out. That was the one I didnt expect to last the previous night.

This baby has had 2 feeds with the syringe so far. 1& half mls 1st feed and it had the strength to get out of its coverings and climb to the top of the towel looking for its 2nd feed. It took roughly 2&half mls 2nd feed.

Have been trying to get hold of someone heading to or passing through Taupo to take a wee passenger and drop him off at Hedgehog Haven but no luck so far. Even went to a motel which is a favourite with the truckies as plenty of room for their trucks to park. No luck there either.
Posted a couple of entries on our website trademe but nothing there either so far.
One of the girls at the vets had looked after a baby hedgehog but it had died after a few days. So that wasnt much good either.
Just wish I could have got a feeding syringe last night, would have had 2 alive now not just the 1.

Hedgehoggy · #20 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 09:05 AM

Credit to you for trying so hard to help the hoglets, Dragonfaer. The remaining hoglet sounds promising. Keep it up, and I’m keeping everything crossed for you and this little guy

Thanks for taking the time to keep us all regularly updated, that’s really appreciated too.

Dragonfaer · #21 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 10:48 PM

Hi everyone have fantastic news!!!!

Baby still alive and I managed to find a lady at Himatangi Beach which about 40 miles away. She came over and got baby this morning and has a lot of experience with not just hedgehogs but guinea pigs and all the other ones that nobody else wants to deal with. Gave her $20 for petrol and she was
happy to come over.
She had a wee shoe box with holes cut in the lid and one of those heat packs you can get from chemist for putting on sore spots on your body. The ones that heat up when you open them. So wee baby had a feed before he left and then was snug and warm for the trip to his new home.
I can ring her anytime to see how he is doing and if he doesnt make it she will call me.

Many thanks to you all for all your kindness and support. Couldnt have done it without you

The Woodman · #22 (**permalink**) 05-12-2009, 11:01 PM

Well done Dragonfaer. Amazing to think what you have done is on the other side of the world and with a creature that is part of of our shared folklore and heritage.

Are Hedgehogs native to NZ or introduced?

Hedgehoggy · #23 (**permalink**) 06-12-2009, 12:04 AM

That IS fantastic news!

Very well done to you for getting the hoglet this far, and to the lady at Himatangi Beach for taking over his care. The little critter just has to make it now....

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Are Hedgehogs native to NZ or introduced?

Hedgehogs were introduced to NZ, from England, in the late 19th century as a form of natural pest control. They're now considered pests themselves in certain areas in NZ.

schicken · #24 (**permalink**) 06-12-2009, 12:29 AM

Hi

I'm also in New Zealand and my neighbour handed me a 70gram (2.5 ounce) baby hoglet two weeks ago. He's been an unfulfilled kamikaze pilot almost the entire time I've had him. He first arrived flyblown with maggots in one eye, he was cold and could barely manage mushed up jellimeat with goats milk. He spent three days on the other side of my bed on the electric blanket wrapped in a towel. When he got his own heating pad, he moved into a box next to my bed, but the first time I left the house he escaped (I believe a cat aided this) and almost froze to death roaming the house. He then got an anal prolapse (which I luckily saw happen and was able to put back in). He was on "suicide" watch for the first 10 days - it was very tense, and I knew nothing really about hedgehogs except you feed them cat food and never cows milk and that roaming babies cannot be left outside to fend for themselves. My Mum raised Spike about 10 years ago or so, and he had no health issues at all and so I expected the same experience - I was so misguided. At one stage he stopped standing properly and two feet became floppy and Peg got me to crush up vitamin b tablets and sprinkle a little on his food once a day.

Prickles now weighs 170grams and is being very hedgehog like, popping his quills, spiking me in the finger and putting his head down and quills up when I put my hand near him.

I think he has a tiny bit of mange, so he's off to be properly weighed at the vet and prescribed the appropriate kitten treatment this afternoon if they can fit him in.

Prickles would have died about five times over if it wasn't for beautifully caring Peg at Hedgehog Haven. Even Peg thought Prickles would have to be euthed after the prolapse, but because of my seeing the incident, researching the internet and Peg answering the phone at 11pm at night, we were able to save him. (He's very ungrateful).

Good luck with all your hoglets, Marg

Hedgehoggy · #25 (**permalink**) 06-12-2009, 01:38 PM

Hi Marg, and a warm welcome to WAB too

Thanks for sharing your story. The internet certainly is a marvellous invention. How did we ever manage without it?!

Sounds like your little bundle of Prickles has caused you more than your fair share of sleepless nights! You’ve done a grand job getting him to that weight, not to mention dealing with the prolapse incident

I hope he continues to thrive - preferably without any further hiccups if your sanity is to remain intact!

Wishing you plain sailing from now on