Hedgehog hibernation site?

[Ladywell]

We have just cleared out under a bench in the greenhouse (which hasn't been done for a long time) and, to our delight, I think we might have had an overwintering hedgehog. A big pile of debris (large bucketful) so I can't think of anything else other than hedgehog. What was interesting was that in amongst all the dried grass and leaves were the outer casings of beech mast - I have been racking my brains and cannot think of a mature beech anywhere near here - how far would they carry them?

Last question - would like to provide a more permanent house for our visitor - suggestions please. (It is a slug pellet free garden with lots of slugs and snails and a tiny pond)

[Hedgehoggy]

Hi Ladywell, how exciting to discover a hedgehog may have been hibernating in your greenhouse at some time .

The beech mast casings are interesting. Hogs, generally, aren’t known to carry food back to their nests to consume, but I have known two hedgehogs in my care in the past which used to carry pieces of chicken back into their nests to eat! On the other hand, and probably the most plausible, the casings could have been used to line the nest. You’d be surprised how innovative they are when they come to nest lining! – I’ve found whole carrier bags, food/sweet wrappers, and once, an old sock in the hog houses dotted around my garden and they’ve certainly NOT collected these materials from my garden!!

Hogs can travel approx 2km a night foraging for food, so I guess they’d have no problem bringing back such treasures to line their nests! The hedgehogs which brought an entire carrier bag and the old sock back to one of my hog houses must have been a sight to behold at the time!

I always advocate putting a permanent purpose-built, or hand-made, hog house in peep’s gardens that have known hedgehog presence. They may not always use them to hibernate in, but will often use them from time to time as temp homes. There are many hog houses for sale on the ‘net, as well as plans to make your own. For example,

How to build your own hog house:
British Hedgehog Preservation Society

Purpose-built hog house - The following link is to fellow WAB member Ron’s website, who runs a hedgehog rescue as well as building and selling his own excellent quality hedgehog houses:
http://rons-hedgehogs.webs.com/

[Ladywell]

Thank you Hedgehoggy. It is years since we have had hogs in the garden. We have open fields at the back with a stone wall in between. I think the problem for the hogs arose when both my neighbours put up solid fencing (grr) so that our garden was completely enclosed. However, I am assuming that hogs can climb walls?

My husband is quite a handyman so I will get him on the case soon - do you think it would be a good idea to locate it in the greenhouse (which has a few holes in rotten wood at the bottom so there is access)?

[Hedgehoggy]

Great idea to put the hog house in your greenhouse, especially as it’s already been used as a hibernation site in the past + it will be protected from all the elements so no chance of rain leaking in

Hogs can climb walls if there are suitable footholds; they’re also exceptionally good at digging. If your neighbours’ fencing doesn’t have the solid gravel boards at the bottom, you could help the hogs to gain entry to your garden by making a few little discreet 4"x4" gaps under the fencing (if the hogs haven’t already done this themselves!).

Alternatively, you could share the following link with your neighbours in the hope that they will then make the gaps in their fencing and set about to actively encourage hedgehogs into their gardens too:

Hedgehog Street

P.S. Don't forget to post a pic of your hubby's finished handiwork