Hi Iloveanimals1969
Sorry to hear the hogs were frightened away. Although, it is best for hogs to be released back where they came from, or at least as near to where they came from as possible. They get to know their local area very well and if are put somewhere else are likely to be confused and move on fairly quickly. You might be interested to read the following:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/guidance-on-releasing-rehabilitated-hedgehogs/
Really pleased to hear that some other hogs found their way to your garden.
I am assuming that you are talking about a chicken’s egg which you put on the lawn. It is unlikely that it was the hedgehog which broke it. More likely a bird or possibly larger mammal. Hedgehogs have tiny mouths and the type of eggs they might eat are more likely from small birds. Having said that, they don’t form a very large part of their natural diet and they prefer beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, etc.
It’s great that you are trying to make your garden more wildlife friendly. Don’t forget to try to get everyone around to link their gardens with hog holes.
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/
More tips for hog friendly gardens:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/what-makes-the-ideal-garden-for-wildlife/
Hogs will occasionally eat fruit, but it comes very low down the list of their natural foods. But the birds will probably enjoy the wild strawberries and they may encourage insects, etc. Hogs will eat banana, but sugary things aren’t good for their teeth, so I wouldn’t feed banana, personally. As Gr8mums suggests, you are better off offering hog food – or alternatively cat or dog food.
Not sure whether ‘cat scaring plants’ would deter hedgehogs as well. It’s possible – hogs do rely heavily on their sense of smell. But, I have in the past tried those sorts of plants for cats and they didn’t seem to deter cats at all.
Good luck. Hope the hogs continue visiting and you enjoy watching them.
