Hedgehog with a hoglet

[Lizzi]

Hi everyone

A hedgehog has been visiting my garden every day for the past few weeks. I've been putting food out for it (cat food, weetabix, and some chicken) with some water, and would often see it in the early evening.
For the past few days I hadn't seen it at all, but then at about half 5 this afternoon I saw it walking around the garden, with a hoglet!

I just wanted to ask a few questions -

- It is unusual that they were both out in the afternoon?

- The adult hedgehog was pulling up grass and taking it back to the hoglet, is this normal?

- I checked the garden and couldn't see any other hoglets, is it likely that there is only one, or that if there are others they don't always stay together?

I'm not too sure on the age of the hoglet, it is small (about half the size of the adult) but has fur and spines - possibly a few weeks old?

Here is a picture of the adult hedgehog, unfortunately I couldn't get one of the hoglet!



Thanks
Lizzi

[Dogghound]

1. They are usually noctural although if they are disturbed or food is short etc they will emerge early. Although its not to common they bring the young with them into the open when its light.

2. Its possible this was going back to the nest for bedding.

3. They usually have about 4 young but can have 2 or even one I suppose. It could be that this is a very opportunistic juvenile and it has followed the mother from the nest.

4. They usually start to leave the nest at around three weeks old, sounds about rite here.

Keep an eye out there may be more.

[HedgehogRescue]

I agree with the above. Late afternoon and where there is cover or shade then you may well see them out.

Litter sizes vary enormously and so do survival rates. It may be that the one you saw is the first born and ahead of the others in which case more may start to come out, or it could be that mum has only managed to raise one.

I have a mother here who had two babies, one died, the other is now huge, separated from mum and ready for release.

I also have a litter of 7 that came to me at 24 hours old. It's highly unlikely they would all have survived in the wild even though I've managed to raise the whole lot. Mum just wouldn't have had enough milk for all of them. They're going through 3 litres of slop plus 2 large dishes of kitten biscuits a day.

Keep your eyes peeled though, if you see the little one on its own, no mum anywhere or cats/foxes taking an interest, or if it's crying/peeping and mum doesn't come to get it, then grab it and get it to a rescue.

[Lizzi]

Thank you Dogghound and HedgehogRescue for your replies.

I have been checking but so far have still not seen more than one baby. Fortunately every time I see it, the mother is also there. But I will keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't get left on it's own.

HedgehogRescue, that's great to hear you have raised a litter of 7

[HedgehogRescue]

With another one that arrived tonight, I've got 18 little ones here now in addition to the adults. I'm beginning to lose the will to live.