Hedgehog in garage .

[Puddle Duck]

Tonight, after a couple of weeks suspicion due to seeing a larger hedgehog exiting my garage, I have witnessed a baby hog eating some food and having a drink, then returning into my garage.
That is not a problem. The problem arises when I need to clear out the garage , which is long overdue. I left it last year as I suspected they were in there then. So can anyone say when the best time to clear it. It must be done as I can’t leave it another possible 12 months.
Any tips or suggestions, please ? Thanking in anticipation.

[Nic]

Hi Puddle Duck

I suggest you try at the times recommended for cleaning out hog houses. i.e. Spring and Autumn. Not quite so easy these days in Autumn because there seem to be so many late litters, but ideally after hogs finish breeding but before they hibernate. Or maybe safer to leave it until the Spring once hibernation is over but before breeding season begins.

https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/cleaning-out-boxes/

If I were you I would have something ready to put any hogs you might potentially come across in – possibly more than one (by the sounds of things), in case. There might be more than one nest in an area as large as a garage. Then keep any hog/s enclosed with some food and water until nightfall before releasing again. If by chance you disturb a nursing mother, you might need to take advice from your nearest carer, so might be useful to have contact details to hand. You might consider getting some hog houses for the hogs to potentially move into. If you do, it might be a good idea to get them in advance of any clearance of the garage, so that they will already know about them. With a bit of luck the hogs might move out of the garage and into any potential hog houses before the clearance. Alternatively maybe they could move back into the garage if it was all cleared in one day. You might even find you can clear around where any hogs are and leave them be.

Good luck.

[Puddle Duck]

Thanks for your advice. It’s very helpful from both of you. I already have 2 hog houses, so I’ll be all set from that side of things. They are not being used at the moment. It is tricky with the timing. Probably the best is to leave until early Autumn and hope that there aren’t any late babies. Then at least if they wish to return for hibernation, they can do.
My fault as I place their food along the side of the garage and I always have the side door of it open. (no car in there , just lawn mowers, gardening equipment , toys grandchildren have grown out of….. general dumping ground. ) Once again, thanks for the helpful advice.
Cheers

[Puddle Duck]

My mistake…. should have said early Spring. I think I will forget autumn..

[Author]

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