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Post by alf1951 on Oct 13, 2017 13:28:49 GMT
Hedgehogs don't seem to feature very frequently in the mammals section - persumably because the keep such unsocial hours. They are also in decline in the UK which is a worry. I'd never seen a live one in the flesh until this year but clearly there are quite a few around here judging by the amount of droppings I collected every morning from our garden during the Summer so I knew they were around and insomnia helped me catch images of these two.  Hedgehog02 by Alf Parker, on Flickr  Hedgehog01 by Alf Parker, on Flickr Cumbria Wildlife Trust are currentl undertaking a survey and would be grateful for info on any sightings in Cumbria - go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.ukAlf |
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Post by ianr on Oct 14, 2017 6:35:10 GMT
I used to see and hear them all the summer long around here, woods just across the road open front gardens and all that. But now the only ones I see are road casualty's and not so many of them. I did take an under weight and tick ridden one to the local animal rescue about 3 years, that's the last live one for me. Really quite sad
ian
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Post by rowanberry on Oct 14, 2017 8:52:25 GMT
About three years ago I cat/house-sat for a friend while she was on holiday... she has a large paved back garden, and I liked sitting out under the awning in the evening. One night I saw a little round shade scuttling about in and amongst the pots and it took me awhile to realise what it was!  I went to the shops the next day and got a tin of dog food, and for the rest of the week I put some out in a saucer every night... if I sat there quietly long enough, the hedgehog would come and eat. It turns out it was living under the next-door neighbour's shed, and was able to get through gaps beneath the fence. It was always too dark for me to get a photo of it, but that was the only time I've seen one 'in the wild'. |
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Post by alf1951 on Oct 14, 2017 13:56:38 GMT
The number of droppings I find here have declined considerably in the last couple of weeks - getting near hibernation time perhaps or maybe just a change in their nocturnal routine. They cover up to 2Km a night apparently! They are said have a liking for spaces under the floors of timber sheds to sleep in the day or hibernate in Winter. As garden store is plastic I've piled up leaves in a secluded corner of the garden should they want to use that.
Fortunately my camera is capable of focusing in extremely dim light. I got the pics above by using flash and just focusing on a slightly darker blob on the lawn or path with no idea if it was a hog or not.
Alf
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Post by rowanberry on Oct 15, 2017 13:11:56 GMT
Alf, if they like hibernating under timber flooring maybe you could find an old pallet discarded somewhere and then pile your leaves on top of that? Or if you feel like doing a carpentry project, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society show how to make a hibernation house! www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/leaflets/L5-Hedgehog-Homes.pdf |
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Post by alf1951 on Oct 16, 2017 7:50:23 GMT
Thanks for the ideas - may be worth a try.
Alf
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