If you are lucky enogh to have a hedgehog in your garden then here are a few pointers that will hopefully ensure you both enjoy your garden and one anothers company.
If You Find a Hedgehog Nest
If you come across a nest whilst moving a shed or large pile of untidy leaves, do not touch the babies with your hands. Once they smell of you, mum is highly likely to abandon them. Be honest with yourself do you really have to move that pile of leaves, can it not stay where it is for an extra week or two? If you can then simply cover the nest back up and leave well alone. You may find that by being disturbed mum will find a new nest site and solve the problem for you.
Grass Cutting
When cutting long grass, always check it before cutting. Grass cutters in all their guises can inflict the most horrendous wounds
Moving a Compost Heap
Do not stick the fork straight in, move it with care. Yes, this may take you an extra ten minutes but imagine the horror felt if you hooked more than just compost onto the end of those prongs.
Hedgehogs Spines Don't Like Netting
Have netting on plants or a kid’s football goal? Check on a daily basis that a hog has not managed to get itself caught up overnight. Or when the kids have finished playing then pull the netting up away from the ground cutting down the chance of entrapment.
If You Have a Pond
Try to ensure that if a hog falls in that it can climb back out again. A piece of chicken wire draped over the side into the water and securely fixed in place will act as a safety ladder.
No To Slug Pellets
Have a problem with slugs? The best solution by far is to encourage the local hogs to eat them rather than place pellets all over the garden. If you really must put pellets down then remove any dead slugs on a daily basis and dispose of out of harms way.
Feeding Your Hedgehog
Put out a bowl of water and dogs or cats meat and never give cows milk with bread. Although they love the stuff it is not good for them.
Hedgehogs Do Not Sun Bathe
If you see a hog out during the day then it will need help. Find a local sympathetic vet and take it along to him. During the breeding season if you find a female she must be returned to the spot she was found as soon as possible otherwise her babies may simply starve to death.
Hedgehogs Like the Quiet Life
Find a quiet, secluded part of the garden and install a nest box. They can be purchased or make your own. The Hedgehog Preservation Society has some great plans for home made nest boxes.
Autumn Babies
If you find a small hedgehog out and about during the first days of autumn and it weighs less than the magic 600 grams then it will need to come in for the winter. So pick up, place in a box with an old towel some food and water and find your nearest carer.
Hopefully with a little care on our part the hogs of our gardens will live a long and happy life and treat us to the pleasure of seeing them as they scurry on their way in return.
