Is this a hogitat?

[Billabong Karen]

At the bottom of my garden I have a big, untidy pile of old branches, placed right next to my equally untidy compost heap. At the weekend I noticed that something has been clearing a space under the heap.



Trying not to be too disruptive, I got down on hands and knees to photograph the entrance. The trowel is so you can judge the size of the hole. You can just see the beginning of the 'chamber' under the branches, with one of the brieze blocks that line the edge of the compost heap. The chamber goes back further, into a narrower sort of burrow.



Could a hedgehog have made a home for itself here? It seems a bit too accessible, but it is definitely made by some sort of animal. I have not seen any hedgehogs in the garden for ages, so would be delighted if so!

[diggleken]

Hi Karen, no doubt the mammal experts will be along, but meanwhile, looks good for Hogs to me - and with weather getting colder, its the right time for it to happen.
I think some inexpert juveniles may choose something not as substantial as mature adults - but looks well supported by strong pine branches, so maybe add a little more herbage/cuttings on top to thicken it /cosy it up without collapsing it?
Cheers
Ken

[Dogghound]

Its very hard to say from these photos as they dont show anything diagnostic of a particular species. It is hard to say if anything has pushed through as it just looks like a stack of dead Laylandii.

The actual brash pile is an ideal site for a hibernacula, they often build their winter nest beneath brash, thick bramble, dense conifer etc like this. The winter nest is usually largely made up of the leaves of broad leaved trees (less often grass). So it might be worth having a look under there to see if its packed with nesting material. It should be in a ball approximately 40-60cm in width.

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Its very hard to say from these photos as they dont show anything diagnostic of a particular species. It is hard to say if anything has pushed through as it just looks like a stack of dead Laylandii.

The actual brash pile is an ideal site for a hibernacula, they often build their winter nest beneath brash, thick bramble, dense conifer etc like this. The winter nest is usually largely made up of the leaves of broad leaved trees (less often grass). So it might be worth having a look under there to see if its packed with nesting material. It should be in a ball approximately 40-60cm in width.

Something has DEFINITELY pushed through; there wasnt a hole underneath before the weekend... I agree it's a good place for a winter hibernacula, that's why I left all the garden debris there. I will have another look to see if I can see any nesting material.

How exciting!

[tigertom]

your pile of branches very simaler to one i have in my garden wich dos get use by hedgehogs as dos a compost heap I have a rather dryish one at that
you can see it up against my fence at back of garden in pic below



Have got at least 1 hog useing it at moment and one of the entrances it uses looks a bit like that on your pile.
MIKE

[Hedgehoggy]

Fingers crossed it is a hedgehog Surefire way to tell if it is (plus will help it to gain sufficient weight for impending hibernation), is to leave a small dish of dried food* out and then look out for tell-tale hedgehog scat nearby (or at) food source. They have a fast metabolism and often poop whilst eating!

*Dried food = e.g. cat bics/dried mealworms/chopped unsalted peanuts - same sort fed to birds. Oh and a dish of fresh water, hogs drink lots of water

[eeyore]

slightly off topic i found a hog today pootling along the middle of the road - i stopped and moved it to the verge , but looking back in my mirror i saw it come off the verge and start walking down the middle of the road again so i stopped and moved it a second time , this time taking it into an adjoining feild , from where it made its way back to the middle of the road and started walking along again

very odd behaviour - may be it has a deathwish ?

I was late for a meeting by this point so i moved it onto the vege one last time then left it to its own devices

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

Fingers crossed it is a hedgehog Surefire way to tell if it is (plus will help it to gain sufficient weight for impending hibernation), is to leave a small dish of dried food* out and then look out for tell-tale hedgehog scat nearby (or at) food source. They have a fast metabolism and often poop whilst eating!

*Dried food = e.g. cat bics/dried mealworms/chopped unsalted peanuts - same sort fed to birds. Oh and a dish of fresh water, hogs drink lots of water

Good idea - I will try the food. Dont think I need to put water out, as I have a garden pond (very easily accessible with shallow sloping sides, so easy to get out should a hog inadvertently fall in!).

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by tigertom

your pile of branches very simaler to one i have in my garden wich dos get use by hedgehogs as dos a compost heap I have a rather dryish one at that
you can see it up against my fence at back of garden in pic below



Have got at least 1 hog useing it at moment and one of the entrances it uses looks a bit like that on your pile.
MIKE

That does look a lot like my heap of branches... Thank you for the encouragement! Will put food out and keep you all posted. Karen

[dampflippers]

Put a bucket or a plant pot on its side near the pile filled with hay or dry dead grass or leaves.
You'll be able to see if any has been dragged into the nest if it is one.
I hope so!

Please DO put water dishes out too. Much safer than the pond even if easy sides. You can check whether anything has been drinking the water, and you may notice scratch marks where a hog has used it.