Excitement and disappointment!
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A week ago, after having an empty hedgehog house for 4 years, we finally saw signs of use and quickly set up our camera trap.
We were so excited to see a hedgehog nesting in our box coming and going for 3 or 4 nights.
Then we pick up a fox at around 4.20am, roughly the same time hedgehog had been returning previously.
Since then we’ve seen the hedgehog sporadically some nights, but never going back in the box.
We’re in the UK and temps have slightly increased.
Our excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Will our hedgehog box be used again? Will hedgie return? Is it the fox that’s likely put it off or is it usual in warmer weather for them to be less stationary in their nesting sites?
Any insights appreciated! Also, anything I can do to tempt the hedgehog back?
Hi Hnughes27
Oh, that must have been SO disappointing! Some foxes will predate hogs and can become expert at killing them, so not good to have around. But others apparently mostly ignore them. It’s just working out which type of fox it is. But I wouldn’t encourage them close together because no predator can be completely trusted.
But hogs, especially males will move sleeping places quite often in the Summer, so it might be back. Your garden may already be wildlife friendly, but as many places that any hogs can escape to would be useful.
The problem with tempting the hog back, with ie. food, is that the fox would be tempted too. But it is important to always leave water available for hogs all day every day. That is something they can’t always find in the wild. Wide but shallow plant saucers are ideal if you don’t have a pond. Maybe you could place one near to an escape route for the hog.
Good luck. I hope things resolve positively.
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