hedgehog hibernation - next question :)

[sophisticat]

Following on from my post
I was under the impression that hedgehogs hibernate in winter ?
last week, after a few days of wakefulness my hog seems to have gone back into hibernation properly now.

Can anyone tell me how long this is supposed to last? Or is the answer "as long as it does" in which case, is there an average time?

[valleyforge]

Hi sofisticat,

In my experience, the key determining factor which induces the beginning or ending of hibernation is NOT temperature, as most folk assume .... but the shortening/lengthening of daylight hours.

If you have your hedgehog hibernating in a shed, for instance, it is important that there is sufficient NATURAL light for the animal to sense that the days are lengthening again.

They all seem to have very individual foibles however, so you can't easily predict when hibernation might begin or end. Of the five hedgehogs we are currently overwintering, only one went into hibernation (last week of October) and slept soundly without wakening/eating/drinking (monitored on CCTV) until 1st February, since when he's been wakening each night to feed.

[Brocakat]

Won't they hibernate mainly somewhere warm & dark though ---- and therefore out-
of-the-way of how light might be a factor?

[CharlieCreek]

The hogs are very variable, some of ours went down in October in the secure garden and are still hibernating, one went down October in the secure garden and then got up for a while in late November and then went down again.

In the rescue area one went down around early November but then came out early Jan and is still up and about, some of the others went down around Christmas and others have just not shown any intention of going down.

All of the hogs in the rescue area have the same facilities and environment e.g daylight/dark stimuli, the same kind of long term hog homes with separate sleeping areas and food availability yet they all choose to do different things.

Outdoors in the wild I think food availability is a large driving factor more so than temperature (although of course it is the temperature that affects the food supply).
However even with supplementary food the ones outdoors do go down so it isn't the only driving factor.

[sophisticat]

Originally Posted by CharlieCreek

The hogs are very variable

I'm beginning to get the picture

I suppose my question should have been how do I know when he's finished hibernating, in the sense that obviously I want to release him as soon as practical. I've just checked tonight and while he hadn't been out of the nest since Sunday he's now munched a bit of dry food at some point today.

Would it be safe to assume that when he's definitely emerging for food every day that he's finished hibernating? I'm new to this; he's the first one I've cared for overwinter, but I'd definitely do it again if I had to

[Hedgehoggy]

All my juvs are still hibernating, with the last one only having gone down two days ago. Look to the wild hogs for your cue. As a general rule, once the wild hogs are seen up and about in your area, then is the time to release those that have been over-wintered (providing they're awake of course!). Continuing with supplementary feeding is beneficial for all releasees, but you can’t guarantee their return - so if you release too soon, and the hog scarpers off, it may well not find any natural food.

[Hedgehoggy]

Hedgehogs have been around for a cool 15 millions years, yet nobody knows for certain exactly what key factor(s) trigger their hibernation!

I have noticed that the majority of those I transfer from my warm house into a cold environment generally go into hibernation within a few days of doing so, but for all I know they may have been planning on doing this anyway whether I’d kept them indoors or not!

I’ve also noticed that those hibernating in a cold environment generally hibernate for longer periods than those hibernating indoors, BUT this isn’t always the case as demonstrated by my 3-legged hog hibernating indoors from 24/11/10 – 6/2/11 and only waking on 4 separate days during that period.

The last of my juvs to hibernate did so just two days ago (14th Feb), on the same day I spotted a Great Tit with a twig in its beak, presumably nest building!!

I’ve also mused over whether their brown-fat reserves (as opposed to white-fat) play an important role in triggering hibernation, but this theory is a non-starter when you consider how many underweight juvs and adults go into hibernation in the wild.

So, these days when I’m asked what triggers hibernation I tend to reply ‘an internal readiness’, simply because it just about covers everything!

[sophisticat]

How long is a piece of string, then

He seems to have been out for more food overnight, so maybe not fully hibernating. I'll just have to be guided by what he seems to want to do, and when.

I'm hoping he might hang around the garden once released and intend to leave out plenty of food to help him on his way!

One thing that I have noticed is how he is fortunately still very wary of humans even though he's been in the lounge for 3 months; diving straight back into the nest if startled, and curling, albeit not completely tight, when I weigh him. They really are the most delightful creatures.

[sophisticat]

So, here we are nearly a couple of months later. Hodgepig has been out a few times for a snack but I've seen so little of him over the last few weeks I was starting to get worried.

Fortunately he came out last night and again tonight, so I think he's probably through hibernation now. But he doesn't seem hungry - I assumed he would emerge ravenous after all that sleeping but he's barely touched the food. I had dry food already available but having seen him up tonight I gave him some of the favourite catfood, but he's not that interested.

Does it take a few days for their appetite to return?

[CharlieCreek]

They tend to drink rather than eat a lot initially and little food is is taken on the first few nights. Also they will be finding some natural food.

Water is important and try some peanut nibs and sultanas along with the cat food. The hog will start feeding before long.