Dead hedgehog

[Sallyrose]

For some years I’ve been feeding the visiting hedgehogs who come through my garden pretty much every night. The most we’ve seen at the same time (via infrared tracker) has been 4, but I’ve fairly often seen or heard 2 at the same time. Very sadly on Monday night I found a dead one in my small garden pond, actually next to the brick I put there as a stepping stone to aid them getting out should one ever venture this way. I’d been away for a few days and the pond level was reduced due to the recent heatwave so that might have made it difficult, but when I took the hedgehog out of the water and turned it over, I noticed injuries to both legs on the same side of the body so perhaps that may have been the problem or it may have happened after the poor creature died. I’m very pleased to say that I observed/heard 2 hedgehogs in the garden last night. They seem to co-exist with the regular fox/fox cubs that visit too although I’ve noticed the foxes sniff at them sometimes.

[Nic]

Sallyrose

Sorry to hear about the poor hedgehog. It must have been very distressing for you.

It might be a good idea to have a ‘belt and braces’ exit route – in case the water level falls again – although any escape route relies on a hog actually finding it and being able to use it. That particular hog seemingly already had its own problems.

You mention foxes. Sadly, foxes, particularly young ones, are known to ‘play’ with hedgehogs and there have been reports of them nipping off hedgehog legs (with their sharp little teeth) in the process. So one of the fox cubs may have been the culprit. The problem is most likely to happen if the hogs are lulled into a false sense of security by becoming accustomed to the presence of the foxes. Then they don’t roll up quickly enough, leaving their legs exposed to attack.

You may already, but if there are foxes around it is best to feed hogs in a place which is not accessible to the foxes – maybe some sort of feeding box. Then they, at least, can’t be crept up on when they’re eating.

Fingers crossed the hogs manage to stay out of trouble. Good luck and happy hog watching.

[Sallyrose]

Thanks Nic, I confess I felt awful about it – well, I still do – but I think you’re right and the young foxes are probably the answer as to what happened, in conjunction with the pond being down a bit. There are 3 fox cubs regularly in the garden, and they have certainly sniffed at the hedgehogs from time to time. The hedgehogs do have a homemade feeding box – fitted with a flowerpot entrance tunnel this year after one of the very young fox cubs could get right inside! I have now moved where I put food down for the foxes to another part of the garden, which is also at a lower level than my very small pond.

Since the dead hedgehog incident, there seem to regularly be 2 hedgehogs coming into the garden – at most I’ve had 4 at the same time. I think the one that died was the smallest of my regular visitors, who I saw for the first time a year ago, when s/he actually tried to nibble the laces of my trainers as I stood still watching from above! I was worried s/he’d be too small by the time hibernation came round, but I saw what I assume was the same little hedgehog when they emerged in March. I love watching them!

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