Hi Jane-Suffolk
Glad to hear you have been using those tips to help identify the hogs.
I would wait a while longer, re. the images on the Gallery, it sometimes takes a little while for them to appear
Re. Marking. If people stuck to the BHPS guidelines and marked only a few spines using a non-toxic water-based marker , people might not mind quite so much, but sadly that isn’t always the case. That would also minimise any potential effect of the substance used. Although BHPS do also say “We’re pretty sure a hedgehog would rather not be marked“.
My own personal view is, that any interaction between humans and hogs should only happen if it is for the benefit of that individual hedgehog or hedgehogs as a whole. If it isn’t they should be left to get on with their lives. Sadly marking often seems to be only for the benefit/amusement of humans and of no benefit to the hog whatsoever.
