I will try to draw them as well as making portait photos at the hog resturant. Still I cannot see what you describe, but with time I will. Have noticed different colours of the skin on the paws.
I filmed the last adult 10 august and the last juvenile 1 september. Later in september I think saw one dropping. I was biking with a headlight on a place i had seen a juvenile earlier and saw one dropping. Lauging a bit at myself for noticing it in the dark. I have read that they hibernate longer at colder places (not very surprising) and also that they often leave gardens for forest some time before hibernation.
Also I’ve read that they shift hibernating place depending on whether it deteriorates and that it depends on how well their leaves are supported by other vegetation. A place under a log or under brambles will last longer that one of just leaves.
Have talked to someone in a municipal organisation that next time a big tree fall in the town they will take part of it with branches to the woods here for children to play and for any other organisms. The woods close to living areas here are without any logs.
I live where there are flats and have started to grow a perennial garden. One summers day when I watered the artichokes (where i’ve put in lots of green manure between the plants) two hogs came out. I’m happy that they found a place to stay during day. I put large amounts of leaves between hedges and a metal fence. Think the municipality could do similarly and saving money while making soil for bushes, food and shelter for hedgehogs.
In one of the woods (to make a place for hibernation) I’ve cut horisontally into a rotten treestump, filled the hole with leaves and bent a mudflap for truck over it. Covered it with branches to camoflage it for people. The entrance is probably to wide to give good protection. I don´t own any land so have to be inventive.
