Frosty hedgehog!

[Hedgehoggy]

Today was the coldest day (I think) this winter (-2 daytime), the frost still hadn’t cleared from this morning and more has covered the garden tonight, and yet what do I find in my feeding station tonight? ....A large male hedgehog munching away! (I could hear him from my back door!). First I’ve seen in the garden for a couple of months. One quick check over to ensure no illness/injury/underweight for size, and he was back munching away at the dried cat bics.

So, a timely reminder for those who feed the hogs visiting their gardens that they don’t hibernate solidly throughout the winter. They frequently rouse and while some remain in their hibernacula during this wakeful period, others venture out in search of food and water for a fat-reserve top up before resuming hibernation, (?perhaps this is an indication that we've got some baaad weather heading our way?? ), so please continue to leave a little dried food and fresh water out for them. Thank you

[MartinL]

Hope it wasn't the result of someones Saturday tidy up in the garden!
We have piles of garden debris left since November, I try to leave them in place until the early daffs are in full bloom, (much to my wife's anguish).

[Crumble]

We've seen no wildies out for quite some time, but have heard reports of one and sadly, seen a road victim recently. It's been very mild and wet here on Anglesey until these past couple of days/nights.

We also have 2 in the garage, in hutches.

One settled down weeks ago and the other is still emptying his dish every night, despite last night getting down to just above freezing in there.

Rob

[~T~]

I have medium sized hog hibernating in a home made hog house in my garden. Would it be safe to actually put a bowl of dried food in the box. The box is quite large and I'm sure I could do this without disturbing the little fella. I know the hog has not been out for at least a month now as the twig I placed in the doorway has not been moved. It is definitely still alive as I checked on it when we had terrible rain. I was convinced my box was not waterproof and the poor guy had perished but it was warm, dry and tightly curled up and breathing

Thanks.

[Hedgehoggy]

No, don’t place any food inside his house, this could potentially attract unwanted intruders/predators, and if he’s disturbed by any such intruder, he’ll vacate.

Best to leave any food where you’d previously been leaving it for him. If you’d previously been leaving food out in the open, you could do what I’ve done and rig up a cheap feeding station by cutting a 4”x4” hole in one of those clear plastic storage boxes (I think they cost approx £4 each from shops such as Instore, Poundstretcher, etc) then just line the base with newspaper for easy cleaning. This will keep the food dry and fresh for quite some time for any occasions your hibernating hog rouses and ventures out searching for food .

[Hedgehoggy]

P.S. I would love to see a pic of your successful home made des res, have you got any you could post?

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by MartinL

We have piles of garden debris left since November, I try to leave them in place until the early daffs are in full bloom, (much to my wife's anguish).

Good on you!

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by Crumble

We also have 2 in the garage, in hutches.

One settled down weeks ago and the other is still emptying his dish every night, despite last night getting down to just above freezing in there.

Rob

Bless! He'll hibernate when he feels ready. I've had hogs unexpectedly go into hibernation when I've been planning their release in early spring!

[Crumble]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

Bless! He'll hibernate when he feels ready. I've had hogs unexpectedly go into hibernation when I've been planning their release in early spring!

I suspect he'll do just that. It was -1 in the garage last night but he's been out and eaten half his food. He may wind down slowly from now. Always feel it's better for them to hibernate for a few weeks before re-release to make things a bit more natural for them.

But probably makes no difference to them whatsoever !

Rob

[~T~]

Thanks for the advice. I didnt want to put it in full view as a) the birds would eat it during the day (cats too if it had anything they liked) and b) it rains so much here just now even a in a plastic box it is bound to get soggy (plus my nosy neighbours would no doubt label me as a wierdo). I can place a bowl of food under the conifer trees near the box under some waterproof roofing stuff though which should work as a compromise (I used the waterproff stuff to cover the hog house).

I could probably get a pic but it's pretty deep under the trees and covered in waterproof roofing material. It's a similar idea to the one in this link Anyone bought a Hedgehog House?