Dead hedgehog and general behaviour

[babystar]

Hi,

We have hedgehogs in our garden and recently noticed at least two smaller ones roaming about. The other day we found what we believe to be one of the small ones dead. It didn't look like it had been attacked but what could have killed it? Slug pellets or something else they shouldn't have eaten? Or could it just have been sick? We use organic pellets but hadn't put any down for about a week before we found it.
The next night I went out (as we usually go to see them every night) and saw a big one and a little one. The big one suddenly ran straight towards me, so fast and so directly I wondered for a moment if it was going to attack me! It stopped just short and slightly curled before running back to where he was. Does anyone know, was this just chance or did it know I was there and make a challenge towards me?

Many thanks!

[Hedera]

A shame about the young one. Apparently hedgehogs are very short-sighted so Mum didn't see you till she got close.

[Hedgehoggy]

I agree with Hedera. When a hedgehog is spooked for whatever reason it will either take flight, or freeze/curl up on the spot. Any babies in tow will run after mum. Maybe something startled her so she took flight, only to almost bump into you until she saw you at the last minute!

Another possibility is if you regularly feed the hogs in your garden, or if you were eating something whilst watching the hogs, perhaps she could smell the food in your hand so came rushing over to feed, only to discover that the source of the food hadn’t yet been put on the ground for her! I’ve read of very hungry hedgehogs foraging around people while they’ve been dining al fresco in their gardens – the smell of food to a starving animal can cause them to [momentarily] lose their natural fear/instincts.

The dead hoglet could have died for any number of reasons, e.g illness, infection, eaten something it shouldn’t have, or perhaps the opposite and died of starvation/dehydration.

Slug pellets can and do kill hedgehogs. The organic slug pellets claim to be wildlife friendly as long as the product has been ‘used as directed’. Just found this earlier WAB thread discussing ‘organic’ slug pellets:
Organic slug pellets?

Either way, whether using traditional or organic slug pellets (or any other insecticides in gardens), this removes the hedgehogs’ (and many other creatures’) natural food source. If you don’t already feed the hedgehogs visiting your garden, they sure would very much appreciate a little supplementary feeding along with a dish of fresh water daily – often these little handouts can be life savers, especially for a nursing hedgehog rearing a litter.

[CharlieCreek]

As has been said the little one could have died for a number of reasons. I do know that a lot of carers have been getting juveniles in dehydrated and starving due to the long hot spells.

As to the adult sow, maybe an alternative take and a small possibility is that she may have been rescued at some time.

Sometimes when rescued hogs loose their fear of people. I am always interested in the hogs behaviour as well as obviously rehabilitating them. Hogs that spend a while being rehabilitated will sometimes start to try to bite you as they loose their fear and two we have had in have shown other behaviours.

Two long term rehabilitation's totally lost their fear (which isn't what you want really). One when he went into the release pen if I stepped in would as you describe rush me and then just stop short with lowered head and huff.

The other started to make contact with me side barging. She was in a hutch for quite a while recovering and I noticed that when I put my hand in to change food and water bowls she would rush me, head down and push hard against my hand. Basically she was side barging a behaviour that hogs display in the wild when they come into contact with other hogs often over food.

So just another possibility.

[babystar]

Thanks for all the info, it's really interesting.
Although we bought the organic pellets I don't think we will be using them anymore, although when we did we "used as directed".
No food on me when the larger one came running, I did have my dog with me which I picked up when she got near. It was just strange as she seemed to be coming so purposefully all of a sudden, then after a quick curl went back the way she'd come.
Sad to think the younger one could have died from dehydration. Hedgehogs are a new thing for us having recently moved and now having a much larger garden. Will be putting out some water for them from now on. I'm sure our neighbour puts water out as well as a plate of bird seed!? They were around the bottom of her bird table when I saw them the last time. Don't really want to feed them myself as I wouldn't want them to become reliant or anything, or stop eating my garden pests!