Hi Spikeytrotter
It sounds very likely that the hedgehogs have been artificially marked, especially if the patterns are different.
You can link images or video to here, if they are already somewhere else on the internet. Otherwise, the fastest way I can think of to get an image on here, is to temporarily change your profile pic.
Unfortunately there seem to be quite a lot of marked hogs around these days. Personally I think it is unnecessary and unkind to the hogs and with some of the more excessive markings, even cruelty. Depending on how these people are catching the hedgehogs, they may be breaking the law. If someone is catching a hedgehog for it’s own benefit – for instance if it is unwell – they could be forgiven, but if it is for someone’s own convenience, that is another matter. My feeling is that we should not interfere with the hedehogs unless it is for the benefit of that hedgehog or hedgehogs in general (i.e. properly organised scientific study which requires a licence).
If anyone wants to identify individual hedgehogs it is easily possible by their own natural markings. (I can give you a link to some tips, if you’re interested). In my opinion, if anyone can’t devote the time to identify hedgehogs naturally, then they will not be devoting sufficient time to justify marking hedgehogs.
