Resident hog-housing query
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I have a resident hedgehog which I became aware of a couple of weeks ago and have been leaving food and water out since. It has made its home inside a large bit of tarpaulin which is just laying around but weighed down with a chair. I’m not sure about their housing habits just wondered whether I can expect it to stay there or move elsewhere. I’d rather it was safe and secure in a more solid structure and it would be nice to move the tarpaulin at some point as it is under my washing line but obviously don’t want to unsettle my little friend. If I put a proper house nearby is it likely to transfer?
They use different nests in different places;don’t “usually” stop too long in one place. However, it could be a pregnant female who is using the cover to good effect, although usually going for somewhere like under decking, a shed or right back in thick undergrowth. If you are putting out water daily and supplement as 40% or more meaty or hedgehog/kitten dried stuff they may hang about if there is not much on offer elsewhere. I have 3 feeding stations (secured against cats/foxes etc) and the food goes most nights but not every night! Also 3 hibernacula which my visitors might use if they feel like it. Even in winter they sometimes shift nests which is getting worse due to cc. They are waking and thinking it’s quite warm-get up to seek food but there is none (wild that is) so, they are using up their brown fat stores and may not wake up at all. I hope that helps! Putting a hibernacula in might help later in the year. Sometimes they kip in a feeding station, usually after leaving an empty bowl with their poo in it to curl round……
Dear Members of Hedgehog Street,
I have my doubts about the hedgehog boxes available online on Amazon, eBay, Etsy, garden centres and other sites, whether they are any good for breeding hedgehogs.
I just wondered if any members might have bought one and been successful with their purchase, and had a mum and babies successfully reared in these bought boxes.
Has anyone had success? If so, where was the box from?
And has anyone bought boxes and never had mum and babies?
Thank you for any replies – just about breeding, not hibernation.
roger64Roger, I have feeding stations and hibernacula in the garden. As in my earlier post, reckon nursing mothers prefer other places. I have bought my previous stations via BHPS or Wildlife Trust. Somebody gave me a cheap, Chinese-made(!) station they’d paid a tenner for. I measured the access hole ‘cos it didn’t look right. It wasn’t 4″, not 5″ had been used. I don’t do cameras but I can confirm that, in about 8 years, no breeding Mums in any boxes. Probably not concealed enough for them and they do have to be very wary about cats/foxes access, so, are very careful.
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