Hedgehog rescue plan unveiled

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by CharlieCreek

Lets hope initiatives like this help cut down on hogs needing intervention long term and that it raises along with the hedgehog awareness week coming up the plight of our only little spiky resident in the UK.

Exactly my sentiments, Charlie. Wouldn't that be wonderful...

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Hedgehogs can climb, I had one fall on me when I opened the back gate, it was on top, frightened me to death at 5:00am

OUCH! Nature’s weapon of mass destruction at its very finest! I can imagine the fright that must have given you, and the hedgehog!

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by toadpole

I can just imagine loads of people at the weekend getting their saws out and cutting little gates in their fences....one of my nosey neighbours (loves to shoot and kill things allways telling me that my badger needs to be culled cos of TB and how the foxes all need shooting) took his recycling boxes out last nite and i heard him stop just by the new little opening in my kickboard and walk on ...then today as he brought his recycling boxes back in he stopped again by it ...it must be killing him wondering what this little gap is for I was trying to think of something really unusual to tell him when he asks........as what its actually for will only set him ''off again''just in case he ever decided to try and poison my badger/foxes ...i told him that his precious ''muff muff' (his cat )allways comes every night and eats some of the food i put out ...dont trust him at all still no sightings of any of my hedgehogs yet Marion PS thank you hedgehoggy 10/10 and a gold star !!!my children will be sooo proud

You're a breath of fresh air, Marion. Keep it up!

[toadpole]

Awww and thank you ...that is such a lovely thing to say ...i think its this forum and all the lovely people on here ..it bring out the best in me Marion

[Littlesparrow]

It sounds like a good idea for a number of animals,who's short legs make climbing fences difficult. even if they can.
We don't get many hedgehogs around here and sadly two that I found had to go to the rescue center. We are luck enough to have a wildlife strip of land near to our house so I'm not sure why hedgehogs are such a rare sight, I thought it could be the sandy soil which dries out in the summer, could make slugs and snails difficult to find?

[solus]

Originally Posted by toadpole

....one of my nosey neighbours --- i heard him stop just by the new little opening in my kickboard and walk on ...then today as he brought his recycling boxes back in he stopped again by it ...it must be killing him wondering what this little gap is for I was trying to think of something really unusual to tell him when he asks........

Silly man! Has he no common sense?? It's so the fairies (you know, the ones that live at the bottom of your garden) can come and go safely without damaging their little wings!

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by Littlesparrow

I thought it could be the sandy soil which dries out in the summer, could make slugs and snails difficult to find?

Contrary to popular belief, slugs and snails feature very low on a typical hedgehog’s dietary preference and some species of slugs are also the cause of lungworm in hedgehogs and dogs. Their favourite foods by far are beetles, caterpillars and earthworms.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by solus

silly man! Has he no common sense?? It's so the fairies (you know, the ones that live at the bottom of your garden) can come and go safely without damaging their little wings!:d:d:d

:d :d :d
Why are my big grin emoticons coming out like this??????????

Edit: 'Tis those mischievous fairies at the bottom of Marion's garden...

[Littlesparrow]

According to the Cheshire Wildlife trust hedgehog numbers are declining in Cheshire, the reason being unclear, Lose of habitat, changes in agriculture, use of pesticides and busier roads being given as possible causes.

[toadpole]

Awww Solus i forgot about the little fairies and yes they had better use the new little ''fairy-gate'' cos if they chanced it and tried to fly over the fence he would be probably waiting with his 12 bore shotgun !!! ..THANK YOU hedgehoggy ...finally somebody has said what i have been saying for years ...Hedgehogs dont eat slugs and snails !!!!! I have sat outlate at night on my front lawn over the last 10 years watching my various nocternal visitors , and have actually put out collections of slugs and snails that i have collected in a bucket and saved for them ...i put them on a fresh piece of lettuce of greens so they dont wander off and when the hedgehogs came along they fed right next to them choosing to eat sunflower hearts ...dried /wet cat food or a bit of crumbled custard cream that the badger had left behind.......Not once did they EVER show any interest ...and whenever they have showed a clip on Springwatch etc of a Hedgehogg tucking into a big juicy slug i allways say to my daughter ''chris packham has forced that slug into its mouth ''so i am SO pleased to have it finally confirmed as everybody you meet thinks this is the case ....Marion