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Post by Tringa on Apr 28, 2020 8:09:58 GMT
One from last night in the garden. I think the pushing by one of the hedgehogs is courtship behaviour, but it could be territorial(don't know if hedgehogs are territorial).
The fox that appears later has, I think, only one eye - only one glows in the lights from the camera. It doesn't show on this video but unfortunately it also has an injured back leg.
Dave
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Post by Harold Smith on Apr 28, 2020 8:57:36 GMT
Hi Dave,
Hedgehogs can be quite territorial. Usually the one who claimed the territory first wins the fight, which is mainly pushing and shoving. They can become quite aggressive especially over food left out for them.
Harold.
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Post by Psamathe on Apr 28, 2020 14:52:16 GMT
I had something similar the other night (though heard before investigating at which point they stopped). I've seen it before and assumed it was two males establishing "dominance" (or seeing a competitor off). Your video is virtually identical to the incident I observed a couple of years previously where both are trying to turn the other over using their nose; but it's not much of a "fight" as when I've seen it before one seems to be doing most of the "giving" and the other "receiving".
But, whilst I've observed the behaviour, what it is about is my assumption and I've never interfered and e.g. not sexed the individuals (left them to get on with their lives) so please do correct me if I've assumed incorrectly (I claim no expertise and am very happy to be corrected).
Ian
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Post by rowanberry on Apr 28, 2020 20:45:18 GMT
I like how the fox just sits down to watch at the end... the hedgehogs are not concerned at all; too intent on pushing each other around!
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Post by Tringa on Apr 29, 2020 7:00:04 GMT
Thanks Harold and Ian. I think I am wrong about the pushing being courtship - males competing for dominance seems much more likely.
I'm hoping there is a female hog around and we might get some little ones.
A cat visits the garden now and again and it too watches the hedgehogs trundling about.
Dave
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Post by ianr on Apr 29, 2020 8:19:59 GMT
I remember when we used to see more hogs around here only see the odd one now and again but mating was a very pushy shovey noisy affair  ian |
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Post by clares on Apr 29, 2020 12:16:24 GMT
We’ve had 2 in the garden so far, always makes me so happy to see them. i think the 2 in your video are having a bit of a scrap, the head butting and clicking noises are fighting, not mating. You can hear the mating and fighting noises here: Hedgehog noisesThey aren’t generally territorial though, more likely to be fighting over food. |
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