Spike the hedgehog (temporary guest)

[Eriathwen]

So I was looking out the window just now and noticed a cat stalking something from across the lawn, I was worried it may be one of the swifts who nest in our eaves that had fallen onto the ground so I quickly went out to see what was being hunted.

To my suprise as I rounded the corner, there sat a bloody great hedgehog! Luckily the cat immediately ran away, which gave me time to grab a box. Little Spike (or Harry..depending who you ask ) is now living in my downstairs toilet for the night until I can get him to a wildlife rescue tomorrow. He feels quite thin, didn't ball up when I picked him up and didn't react to being stroked.

He seems reasonably active, I've given him lots of hay, some chicken cat food with water, and left him alone in the dark and quiet until morning.

I cant remember the last time I saw a living hedgehog! He's absolutely beautiful

 

[Claire W]

Aw well done on rescuing him he’s gorgeous

 

[Eriathwen]

He's a lovely little thing, I think he's figured out he's in the home of a soft touch though after eating his little bowl of food he decided to throw it around making a right noise! I removed it and exchanged it for a much larger bowl, this time with an entire tin of cat food and tepid water. Hopefully that will fill him up until the morning. He has also had a poo which I guess is a good sign, but at least he's eating!

Again instead of balling up though he has pancaked out on his front.

 

[anyar.dris]

Awww.. what a gorgeous little hedgie. Hopefully he wasn't too bad.

A few years ago, we also saw a hedgehog in our garden one afternoon. He wasn't moving much. So hubby picked him up and put him in a box with some hedgehog food we have. Covered the box so he won't be scared and such. Around night time, we checked on him and he finished all his food and had quite plenty of poop in the box so we decided to release him in our garden that same night. We put him near one of the hedgehog houses we had and hoped that he will manage to fend for himself.

 

[Eriathwen]

Aw I hope your little one is still about! I was considering letting him go when I heard him crashing around but I'm still a bit concerned about his refusal to curl up.. he appears to be losing hair on his face as well, I wonder if he has mange

I'm sure the wildlife rescue will have some answers for us tomorrow, fingers crossed he will be able to come back to our garden once recovered/if deemed healthy. Only last week I was at a garden centre looking at hedgehog houses and feeding stations hoping to encourage some into the garden, but it would seem they're already here! I'll be sure to buy some to help keep them safe next time I'm out!

 

[anyar.dris]

That hedgehog was seen probably around 6 or 7 yrs ago. We had plenty of hedgehogs that come and go here in our garden. We never knew though whether they were all the same ones. It was around March this year that a hedgehog came in our garden a few nights for meals. But recently the food bowls were not touched at all. So they haven't gone back again yet. We do need to tend our hedgehog area this time again to attract them to stay here again.

 

[Eriathwen]

Just dropped the little one off at Cuan wildlife rescue, turns out he is a she! Doesn't seem to be pregnant though. Once she is ready for release she can come back to our garden if we set up a little hedgehog house and feed her for a few days fingers crossed she does well.

 

[Eriathwen]

I recieved an update from the hospital this morning about this little one, she has been moved to an outside enclosure for continued observation and monitoring, and appears to be building a nest! So it's possible she was pregnant after all. I took the time to confirm that it was noted she was coming home when ready and it's definitely noted on her file, so I'll be going out a little later in the week to pick up a hedgehog house, food etc for her arrival when she's ready, it's possible she may be bringing a family back with her

 

[Eriathwen]

We're quite the wildlife magnet this last week! A few days ago my neighbour called around for my help with a chiffchaff fledgling and today, a crow fledgling decided to take up residence on our bathroom windowsill luckily his parents were on next doors roof, coming to feed him.

Absolutely beautiful little thing, he kept tapping on the window

 

[Merab]

Word is travelling around the animal kingdom that yours is a great place to be

 

[weepweeps]

I recieved an update from the hospital this morning about this little one, she has been moved to an outside enclosure for continued observation and monitoring, and appears to be building a nest! So it's possible she was pregnant after all. I took the time to confirm that it was noted she was coming home when ready and it's definitely noted on her file, so I'll be going out a little later in the week to pick up a hedgehog house, food etc for her arrival when she's ready, it's possible she may be bringing a family back with her

A friend of mine adopted two disabled hedgehogs about two weeks ago to live in her garden. One was blind in one eye and the other one had a leg missing. Her husband hog proofed the garden. They had a safe hog house made and put out food and water.

They lasted one night and both escaped

The lady from the rescue said they are like Houdini. She wasn’t wrong.

 

[Eriathwen]

So guess whose home!? It was decided she is fit for release and if she is pregnant, best to have them out in the wild where she belongs. I'll continue to feed her for a few weeks, at the very least, while she gets used to being back in her own territory again. I'd forgotten how massive she is hopefully she fits out the door of the hedgehog house I got for her! I'd love for her to raise babies in it or at least use it to hibernate, but if she doesn't, I'm sure someone else will.

 

[Eriathwen]

So I'd blocked the door up to wait for it to get dark (with an incredibly heavy paving slab!) She has knocked it over and released herself, obviously smelled home and wanted to get back. I haven't stopped her, she clearly knows where she is and there's lots of safe places and food in the garden. I'll put some food out for her later to see if she returns for it. I hope she manages to have a long, happy life out there back where she belongs!

 

[Freela]

Awww, so cute! I used to have African pygmy hedgehogs as pets back in the day... they are such cute, fascinating little animals! I'm envious that in the UK you can see them right in your garden! We just have a lot of rabbits where I live!

 

[Merab]

I love a happy ending- you gave her that time and space she needed to be ready to return to the garden.

 

[Eriathwen]

I must admit I wasn't expecting there to be much of an update to this thread once she had been released, but there's still been signs of hedgehogs over the last year, poo etc.
Anyway, I got home from running the other night and as I was walking up the drive, could hear some rustling around next to me, by the hedge. It seems our hedgehog certainly did have babies after all! And possibly again this year as this little guy is obviously one of this years offspring, so either her baby or grandchild either way, it's great to know they're still around!