They took to the new feeding box like ducks to water. Camera out last night and realised we have two different adults coming to feed from about 8.30pm till nearly 6am. The best news is that a baby came for the first time, half the size of the adults, I hope I have enough time to feed this little one up ready for winter.🐾🐾🦔😁
Thank you @AnniD and @Hexagon - yes they are lovely and I am pleased they are eating/looking healthy too. Of course I am concerned they may not be big enough if the weather turns cold before Christmas, although in past years we have either had a mild winter or at least the cold hasn't arrived until Jan/Feb - fingers crossed. Keep feeding them up @purplerallim.
Incidentally my tortoises are almost ready for hibernation. They have stopped eating and will be having their annual check-up at the Vets in the next few days. Then they will go into the loft for a few months to sleep - what a life, I am tempted to join them!!
For the last two years November's been the cold month, that's why I'm hoping to stuff them this month. ( I must admit the adults look like round balls now, so they look ready)
Not last winter but the year before ‘our’ hogs visited pretty much every night all the way through. I wonder whether the food on tap was what stopped them hibernating or feeling the need to?
I’m hoping that the young hoglet that arrived last week will put some weight on. He’s been eating a hearty portion of hog food each night so he has a good chance. I have moved the hog house to a new spot this year which I think / hope will suit them better. Fingers crossed all round.
Need input from those in the know. Just read a post forwarded by a friend from "Dotties Little hog hospital" They are saying little hogs out at night in October weighing less than 650g need rescuing. Is this right, surely it's better for them to stay in the wild and keep feeding them. If not do I need to help the little one in my garden that is only as big as an orange? Wondered if those that help in rescues have info.
@purplerallim, l'm unable to cut and paste at the moment, but the advice from my local rescue in Gloucestershire is not to rescue them. The weather is still mild enough in this area for them to be out and about feeding. The weight needed for hibernation varies throughout the UK, but at the moment there are no concerns about the weather. Weighing them will only cause unnecessary stress, so my advice is not to do so. If you are at all concerned l would contact the BHPS and see what they say.
The usual advice about them being out in the day etc. applies of course.
The daylight time is understood, but it's a bit much to run out and catch up a healthy baby just to weigh it. Mine is eating well, spending upwards of four hours a night rooting around and visiting our hog station, so as yet have no concerns, but the article will spread on Facebook and the rescues may be inundated with babies after this. Thanks for the reply @AnniD.😁
AUTUMN JUVENILES AND HIBERNATION WEIGHTS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Due to an increased amount of calls and messages regarding the above I am positing this to advise that due to the current weather and temperatures in Gloucestershire we are not yet taking hedgehogs in that are too small to survive hibernation
Small hedgehogs that are currently visiting feeding stations at night can be left, they have plenty of time to gain the weight needed before the temperatures drop consistently to a level that they will hibernate
Bringing hedgehogs into Rescue unnecessarily will result in health issues that we will then have to treat.
The weight needed for hibernation is variable throughout the Uk and with recent milder winters some are not hibernating until January if at all. We are still receiving newborns into rescue and these will have to stay in rescue through the winter.
We will update when things change, but please continue to put out fresh water and dry cat food. Hopefully this will help give them a boost for hibernation and avoid the need to come into rescue
Please do not take small hedgehogs that are feeding at night out of the wild based only on their We will post again when the weather starts to get colder and when we need to get the hogs in!
We are taking in any hedgehogs that are found out during the day that are injured, wobbly, circling and bothered by flies as usual.
This is applicable only to our local area only, rescues across the UK will vary advice depending on their location and their local temperatures.
BAKERS are invited to rustle up hedgehog-themed cakes for an event centred around the spiky species.
HedgeOx campaigner Hugh Warwick is hosting the Hedgehog Day in Witney – a town he named ‘hedgehog central’ for Oxfordshire.
The campaigner known as Hedgehog Hugh revealed at this year’s Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace that a public survey showed Witney was the place to go for hedgehog sightings. To celebrate, Mr Warwick is staging the Hedgehog Day at Witney Corn Exchange on Sunday, October 13, 12pm to 5pm.
The event will include craft making, wildlife groups and a Great Hedgehog Bake-Off where competitors will be challenged to create their finest hedgehog-themed cakes – sweet or savoury – for prickly prizes.
Mr Warwick said: “This day will be an opportunity to celebrate all things hedgehog and learn how we can work together to improve their lot across the country . Hedgehog numbers are in serious decline - 30 per cent in urban areas and 50 per cent in the countryside, just since the turn of the century. By raising awareness we can get people to start to make changes in their gardens that will benefit hedgehogs. The simplest thing is to make a hole to allow the hedgehog to get in.”
Posts
I’m hoping that the young hoglet that arrived last week will put some weight on. He’s been eating a hearty portion of hog food each night so he has a good chance. I have moved the hog house to a new spot this year which I think / hope will suit them better. Fingers crossed all round.
Weighing them will only cause unnecessary stress, so my advice is not to do so. If you are at all concerned l would contact the BHPS and see what they say.
The usual advice about them being out in the day etc. applies of course.
Thanks for the reply @AnniD.😁
AUTUMN JUVENILES AND HIBERNATION WEIGHTS IN GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Due to an increased amount of calls and messages regarding the above I am positing this to advise that due to the current weather and temperatures in Gloucestershire we are not yet taking hedgehogs in that are too small to survive hibernation
Small hedgehogs that are currently visiting feeding stations at night can be left, they have plenty of time to gain the weight needed before the temperatures drop consistently to a level that they will hibernate
Bringing hedgehogs into Rescue unnecessarily will result in health issues that we will then have to treat.
The weight needed for hibernation is variable throughout the Uk and with recent milder winters some are not hibernating until January if at all. We are still receiving newborns into rescue and these will have to stay in rescue through the winter.
We will update when things change, but please continue to put out fresh water and dry cat food. Hopefully this will help give them a boost for hibernation and avoid the need to come into rescue
Please do not take small hedgehogs that are feeding at night out of the wild based only on their
We will post again when the weather starts to get colder and when we need to get the hogs in!
We are taking in any hedgehogs that are found out during the day that are injured, wobbly, circling and bothered by flies as usual.
This is applicable only to our local area only, rescues across the UK will vary advice depending on their location and their local temperatures.
If any one is in the Witney area on Sunday....
BAKERS are invited to rustle up hedgehog-themed cakes for an event centred around the spiky species.
HedgeOx campaigner Hugh Warwick is hosting the Hedgehog Day in Witney – a town he named ‘hedgehog central’ for Oxfordshire.
The campaigner known as Hedgehog Hugh revealed at this year’s Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace that a public survey showed Witney was the place to go for hedgehog sightings. To celebrate, Mr Warwick is staging the Hedgehog Day at Witney Corn Exchange on Sunday, October 13, 12pm to 5pm.
The event will include craft making, wildlife groups and a Great Hedgehog Bake-Off where competitors will be challenged to create their finest hedgehog-themed cakes – sweet or savoury – for prickly prizes.
Mr Warwick said: “This day will be an opportunity to celebrate all things hedgehog and learn how we can work together to improve their lot across the country . Hedgehog numbers are in serious decline - 30 per cent in urban areas and 50 per cent in the countryside, just since the turn of the century. By raising awareness we can get people to start to make changes in their gardens that will benefit hedgehogs. The simplest thing is to make a hole to allow the hedgehog to get in.”