Possible hedgehog resident

[treecreeper]

Last night I spotted a hedgehog scuttle from the pavement onto my drive. I confronted it and was surprised it didn't go into a ball straight away. I had to give it two or three pokes before it would...to give me a chance to call my son to see it. We both stood by it and I thought it would stay in its defensive posture until we went. But within half a minute it ran off, despite us following it, and made a beeline for one of my neglected sheds, on the right:



The shed is full of clutter that hasn't been touched for years.

It made quite a bit of noise in there but didn't come out again.

I'm wondering if all this is evidence it is nesting in there.

[dampflippers]

It's quite likely. Either just a summer nest or a maternity nest.
Please resist the temptation to peek in, because if it is a she and she has new babies she will eat them if disturbed.

Try putting some strips of kitchen paper (an inch wide), dry leaves, hay or straw nearby and see if it takes any into the shed.

Also, try to resist chasing it! Hedgehogs now seem to be evolving to flee rather than curl up. Mine can run very fast!

Put out some bowls of water round the garden (and the front garden), and if you would like to feed it, there are alot of suggestions here: Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue - Feeding Hedgehogs
Don't put food too near the shed in case it attracts animals that might disturb it.

Don't give milk.

If you want to observe it, go out at the same time again tonight, and stand or sit still. It will freeze when it first sees or hears you, but gradually relax and carry on.

Enjoy!

[treecreeper]

Thanks for these excellent suggestions dampflippers

[digannio]

My one absolutely loves fresh chicken leftovers. She has a great big drink of water, polishes off half the chicken and then quickly scuttles off back to the nest (I think possibly to feed her babies) before returning later to finish off the rest.
I think possibly babies because some time ago I heard the most incredible grunting and snorting noises in the garden (it could have drowned out a vuvuzela) and there she was with a big male... I don't think they had been reading poetry! And just like your typical bloke, he's been nowhere to be seen ever since!