Hedgehog Nesting

[PeterAlice]

Hi,

I just opened our hedgehog feeding station and to my surprise found a hedgehog nesting inside!

I closed the lid as quietly as I could. I just hope I haven’t disturbed it. Has anyone got any advice?

[Nic]

Hi PeterAlice

You did the right thing closing the lid quietly, so don’t worry. I would just leave it alone.

Sometimes a hog will settle down for the day in a feeding box and sometimes stay for a couple of days and then move one. It has happened several times here. Sometimes they will take in a minimal amount of ‘bedding’ – more of a ‘carpet’ really!

If you don’t see any sign of any more substantial nest building (which might indicate a female planning on using it for a birthing nest) you might be able to recommence using it for feeding again after a few days. I would open the lid very carefully in case the hog has taken up more permanent residence. But if, for instance, you see a trail of grass or vegetation going in, I would leave it alone.

I’m guessing you haven’t got a night camera? If you have you could aim it at the box to see what comings or goings there may be.

[PeterAlice]

Hi Nic,

Thanks for your reply. The nest was substantial. The house/feeding station – it’s a hedgehog house that we’ve been using as a feeding station for a couple of years – was stuffed full to the roof with leaves and twigs. Even the entrance was blocked. The top of the hedgehog only just visible.

We do have a night camera. Unfortunately we did not have it out on the night of nest building. But I put it out the next night. It didn’t capture the hedgehog coming out (these events are sometimes missed) but it did capture it pottering about, drinking some water and going back in. Later in the night more pottering around although it was hard to tell if that was the same hog. We did not see it going back into the house. We’ve also put out another make-shit feeding station and left the original with the nesting well alone.

Last night there was no activity at all on the night cam. Although the entrance to the house is now unblocked, or a least not completely blocked as before. Will leave well alone and not open it up, at least for a while.

[Nic]

Hi Peter Alice

If there is a substantial nest in the box, it may be a birthing nest, at this time of year, so a good idea not to disturb them. That’s so frustrating that you misssed the nest building with your camera! But hopefully you might capture some hoglets on it later on.

Good luck and happy hog watching!

[Author]

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