Hedgehog Droppings

Garden Carpet · #1 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 04:54 PM

I think I've got some Hedgehog droppings. This is a pic of the unidentified dropping found on the drive and I think they're from Hedgehogs. There are about 6 such droppings, about 2.5cm long and .5cm diam. they are soft and reddish brown. Any ideas please. Thanks
Jaki

Wild-Woman · #2 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 05:00 PM

Don't know what would produce it but the colouring suggests a berry eater of some kind. Julie

Garden Carpet · #3 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Don't know what would produce it but the colouring suggests a berry eater of some kind. Julie

Hmmm, I wonder.. seems to me to be the sort of dropping a small carnivore might have.. but what... apart from RAT!!!!! I broke one open once and it was smooth inside... and chestnut brown colour.

Jaki

Owl-Light · #4 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 05:53 PM

Cant be certain there, never seen one that colour. Tried some online searches for you but didn't find much of use. Something that did come up was this book - Anumal Tracks and Signs, looks like one for the Wish List I reckon.

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 06:12 PM

I wouldn't have thought rats personally.Think they are darker and more pointed at both ends-bit like large mouse droppings. I shall google poo.

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 06:27 PM

Just an idea. Does a tree overhang the drive? Is it possible that it could be a pellet from a bird of some sort? Other birds produce pellets as well as owls. They need to regurgitate indigestible bits that don't pass through.
I would think that Tragus would be the person to id a dropping/pellet best. ww

Garden Carpet · #7 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Just an idea. Does a tree overhang the drive? Is it possible that it could be a pellet from a bird of some sort? Other birds produce pellets as well as owls. They need to regurgitate indigestible bits that don't pass through.
I would think that Tragus would be the person to id a dropping/pellet best. ww

fraid not Julie... only a privet hedge about three feet from the droppings.. have seen them there many times and always meant to take a pic.. today I did.. come on WAB... dont let me down

Susie · #8 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 08:04 PM

Hedgehog?

Earth Hart · #9 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 08:08 PM

It looks like a Hedgehog dropping to me. Have seen them before, including a couple coming out of said animal.

bugbotherer · #10 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 09:13 PM

I've got that book......
After a quick rumage to page 168 there are some colour drawings of droppings. The one most like the shape you have is indeed the Hedgehog. It also does not look like any of the pellets illustrated on page192 either

Kev Lewis · #11 (**permalink**) 14-10-2006, 10:41 PM

I've been picking up Hedgehog droppings off the lawn for the last couple of days. I have a group of at least four foraging around the garden in the evening and night time. Other than the colouration they looks much like the stuff I've been removing.

Wild-Woman · #12 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 07:11 AM

Think I'd say Hedgehog after reading about their mainly invertebrate diet with some fruit. Perhaps this ones been at the berries! Also, I did wonder whether you may have a neighbour who feeds a Hedgehog with cat/ dog food. Or even tinned Hedgehog food you can get now called Spikes dinner. Just a thought. Julie

Garden Carpet · #13 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 09:52 AM

ok... seems it could be Hedgehog... but I always thought Hedgehog poo was black and sort of tarry...and very nasty smelling... at least that is what it seems to be when I have to clean it off the dog after she has been to my parents and rolled. Will have to watch out for these critters.. take more notice when the dogs appear to be barking at nothing. Thanks all. Jaki

Owl-Light · #14 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 10:09 AM

Yeah I originally though HedgePig too

They usually eat beetles, earthworms and other invertebrates but they are omnivorous and may well have found some nice berries. Just never seen their droppings that shade muself. Usually black as you say Garden Carpet or vivid green if them have stomach problems.

Wild-Woman · #15 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 10:23 AM

You could say 'The Plop Thickens'.......sorry.....I'll leave now

Garden Carpet · #16 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

You could say 'The Plop Thickens'.......sorry.....I'll leave now

ooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!WW that is soooo bad... lol

I asked my good friend who feeds hodgehegs

and she said it was too big for them.. and my Pa.. he said nope.. not hodge.... not black enough and not stinky enough

and none of them can believe I took a pic of it!!!! I have been seeing this over the last five years and it has always been this colour.
Jaki (knee high in whatever)

Earth Hart · #17 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 05:59 PM

If it's not Hedgehog, then young cat, but they can smell as well

Hope it doesn't get any deeper, Jaki, don't want to lose you.

Wild-Woman · #18 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 06:17 PM

Perhaps, as it's in the same place, it's the territory marker of a Fox.

Garden Carpet · #19 (**permalink**) 15-10-2006, 06:55 PM

oooohhhh pooh!!!!! is it big enough for cat or Fox.. at just over an inch long and a bit over 1/4" in diameter??? It is reddish and glossy.. and when broken or stood on it is smooth and glossy. I googled Hedgehog poo and got black and glossy..... with evidence of its diet..... which is pretty much what I had thought it to be. and certainly the hedge poo i had to clean off the dog the ohter day (not from my area) was black tarry and very very smelly.. and bigger!!!!