A distressing morning for the hogs and for us too. Our neighbour came to our door early this morning with two perhaps 2 or 3 week old hogs curled up in the palms of her hands. Both very sick or perhaps dead. She had found them in the garden and they had been attacked with blood on them, by what we think could have been crows - we don't have badgers or foxes here. We do have a few crows living in the trees close by.
The hogs were rushed to the care centre and we are waiting to hear if they have survived these first few hours. I am so upset after watching the parents grow from youngsters to adulthood. We have never seen anything like this before and wonder how the poor mother is coping and wonder if these were her only offspring.
A paddling hedgehog must have been a delight to watch @pu@purplerallim
Oh @Guernsey Donkey2 , how distressing that must have been. Do you know where the mother is ? It's possible she may have abandoned the nest for some reason and they came out looking for her. Would there be any other babies, do you know? It might be worth having a careful look. I know that magpies attack hedgehogs, so it's quite possible the crows are responsible, unless your neighbour has a dog ? Please let us know the outcome.
I also wonder if it could have been a cat? They would have been more likely to attack more than one, but then leave them, whereas crows would have taken them away to eat. Hope they survive.
We really don't know, but we are assuming the crows or as @AnniD suggested perhaps Magpies, we have both living around this area and are often at the bird table. So are Herring gulls, but I don't think they would do this. The cat often sees the adult hogs but doesn't take any notice - perhaps he tried once although he just watches them now.
Sadly one of the casualties had to be put to sleep, the other is struggling and we will have an update in a few days time, two of the usual's came for their supper tonight. Thank you for sharing my concerns for them.
One of our regularly visiting hedgehogs seems to have taken up residence in the wooden hedgehog house in the Wilderness at the back of the garden.
We sat and watched in the twilight as she pootled around in the undergrowth and crossed the lawn to get to the other flowerbeds and the veg patch.
I grabbed a very poor photo on my phone
By the time we went to bed she hadn’t got as far as the feeding station with its cat biscuits and bowl of fresh water ... but we could hear the crunching from the bedroom later on. 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
We have one who visits our garden think it might be the same one who was in the hog box over winter. Sadly while out on Monday I saw a few that had been run over.
Always sad to see that, NannaBoo. At least one has turned up already tonight, around 9.40 pm, and the dish looks almost clean. Such a relief when they arrive.
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I know that magpies attack hedgehogs, so it's quite possible the crows are responsible, unless your neighbour has a dog ?
Please let us know the outcome.
Hope they survive.
One of our regularly visiting hedgehogs seems to have taken up residence in the wooden hedgehog house in the Wilderness at the back of the garden.
We sat and watched in the twilight as she pootled around in the undergrowth and crossed the lawn to get to the other flowerbeds and the veg patch.
I grabbed a very poor photo on my phone
By the time we went to bed she hadn’t got as far as the feeding station with its cat biscuits and bowl of fresh water ... but we could hear the crunching from the bedroom later on. 😊
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
At least one has turned up already tonight, around 9.40 pm, and the dish looks almost clean.
Such a relief when they arrive.