Hi, I’ve just read this interesting post and replies. I’ve been tracking my local hedgehog population – at least 7 individuals – for several years now, using a night vision camera. I’ve seen fights and courtship, but no babies yet. However the numbers have been dropping off over the last two weeks and last night nobody came at all! I know that they do their own thing, but I can’t help being worried. I think it’s important that we put water out for them in this very hot weather.
On the subject of slugs, I don’t believe they like slugs at all. Our gardens are overrun with slugs and snails and over several years of observations I have never seen a hedgehog eat a slug. I’ve seen them walk on top of them, trample them underfoot but mostly they ignore them completely. I’m afraid I don’t think you can rely on hedgehogs to keep slugs off your veggies.
