First for many years

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Howard
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Great excitement earlier on - this was in the garden. Surprised really as it was still light(ish). My wet knees was a reasonable price to pay!! As title says we haven't had one here for several years.

garden_hedgehog_s.jpg

Pentax K3 + Sigma 18-250.

Howard
 
Hmmmm!

In daylight hours, how big did it look was about at least the size of a large grapefruit?

Though it appears healthy I would be concerned if out during daylight hours as that is s possible indicator of a health issue. And if under 450g in weight is at risk when the time comes to hibernate.

If tempted to feed it, in the absence of Hedgehog food, non fish based cat food is 'best'.......plus dried mealworms are good :)
 
Hmmmm!

In daylight hours, how big did it look was about at least the size of a large grapefruit?

Though it appears healthy I would be concerned if out during daylight hours as that is s possible indicator of a health issue. And if under 450g in weight is at risk when the time comes to hibernate.

If tempted to feed it, in the absence of Hedgehog food, non fish based cat food is 'best'.......plus dried mealworms are good :)
Hi,

Thanks for replying.

I was was very surprised to see it about in mid-afternoon, even it was a getting very gloomy. It actually looked very healthy, I would guess at a good size grapefruit. I thought that it would have been in hibernation already. Unfortunately we can't put any food out for it or our scavenger of a dog would gobble it all up. If it's still in the garden I hope the dog will not disturb it.

We shall keep an eye out for it over the next few days/weeks to see if it reappears.

Howard
 
Hi Howard

Would your omnivorous dog also eat mealworms? Hopefully not and you can at least put those out :)
 
Would your omnivorous dog also eat mealworms? Hopefully not and you can at least put those out :)

I too would hope not. But thanks for the suggestion, I put some out yesterday evening and by this morning it had all gone. Whether it was the hedgehog, hope so, or some other 4 legged creature who knows or possibly a wood pigeon. I've read somewhere to put down some sand near the food then study the footprints left behind. However, with the rain we've had that would all be washed away! Ah well, just have to hope that it's the hedgehog.

I'll just have to keep looking out of the kitchen window.

Howard

:):)
 
Lovely. My 2 residents spend much of their time in the hog house now. Specially built behind the bamboo.
 
Hi Howard

Would your omnivorous dog also eat mealworms? Hopefully not and you can at least put those out :)
Dogs love dried mealworms in my experience but so far mine have drawn the line at live ones though my terrier has been known to eat earthworms.
 
Dogs love dried mealworms in my experience but so far mine have drawn the line at live ones though my terrier has been known to eat earthworms.
Ah! well I learn something new every day. Though no one told me about dogs eating mealworms when I worked for the rspb!
 
Ah! well I learn something new every day. Though no one told me about dogs eating mealworms when I worked for the rspb!
I’ve raised a lot of bantam chicks loose in the garden so I’ve had a lot of dried and live mealworms (hens will only feed live ones to the chicks) and so had an opportunity to observe this.
 
I too would hope not. But thanks for the suggestion, I put some out yesterday evening and by this morning it had all gone. Whether it was the hedgehog, hope so, or some other 4 legged creature who knows or possibly a wood pigeon. I've read somewhere to put down some sand near the food then study the footprints left behind. However, with the rain we've had that would all be washed away! Ah well, just have to hope that it's the hedgehog.

I'll just have to keep looking out of the kitchen window.

Howard

:):)


I too used to put mealworms out until I read that they are not good for hedgehogs - https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/news/a2733/hedgehog-food-mealworms/

I've used wet dog food but the local Bengal cat ate it too. Then I tried dried dog food. The cat left it alone but the local fox ate it. I still use the dried food but have had to make a hedgehog feeding station to keep it away from the fox.

Dave
 
I too used to put mealworms out until I read that they are not good for hedgehogs - https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/news/a2733/hedgehog-food-mealworms/

I've used wet dog food but the local Bengal cat ate it too. Then I tried dried dog food. The cat left it alone but the local fox ate it. I still use the dried food but have had to make a hedgehog feeding station to keep it away from the fox.

Dave

In regard to mealworms, I note that the British Hedgehog Preservation Society are "quiet" on the subject as in not even mentioned by way of the caution required
https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/feeding/

Again no mention at all of mealworms
https://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/hedgehog-fact-sheet/
 
Last edited:
In regard to mealworms, I note that the British Hedgehog Preservation Society are "quiet" on the subject as in not even mentioned by way of the caution required
https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/feeding/

Again no mention at all of mealworms
https://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/hedgehog-fact-sheet/


I saw those links too and I was a bit surprised by the warnings about mealworms but there are quite a few links that suggest they are not too good for hedgehogs.

Dave
 
I too used to put mealworms out until I read that they are not good for hedgehogs - https://www.countryliving.com/uk/wildlife/countryside/news/a2733/hedgehog-food-mealworms/

I've used wet dog food but the local Bengal cat ate it too. Then I tried dried dog food. The cat left it alone but the local fox ate it. I still use the dried food but have had to make a hedgehog feeding station to keep it away from the fox.

Dave
Very interesting. Actually my thought on mealworms was that I couldn’t see how one would get wild hedgehogs to eat enough of them to make difference to their condition. Surely people must have enclosed them to feed them up? If I were to put a bowl of mealworms or dog food in the garden at night I’m sure it would all go but it would be rats (and mice of which I have a lot) that got it!
I get, relatively speaking, a lot of hedgehogs in my garden because it’s ideal habitat for them (lots of dead wood, vegetation etc) even though I discourage them as much as possible.
 
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