I have a slightly daft question. But do sonic cat deterrents affect hedgehogs? I'm keen to set up a feeding station to see if any hogs appear (I've seen no evidence of them, unfortunately, but I'm still up for trying). However a lot of my neighbours have those sonic cat deterrent things in their gardens, and I'm wondering if that scares them off? I live near a woodland and wild meadow area, so there must be some living there. As far as I know no one else round here feeds hedgehogs, but more because they haven't thought of it than not wanting to.
@Pyra, there seems to be mixed advice regarding cat scarers and hedgehogs. Some manufacturers say that the frequency is set for cats and that hedgehogs can't hear it, but others reckon that they have seen hedgehogs visibly flinch if they go near them. My advice would be to set up the feeding station and see what happens (l'm assuming that you're enclosing the food in some way and not leaving the dishes out in the open). If the hedgehogs can gain entrance into your garden, believe me, they'll find it ! If you get on with your neighbours, it may be worth asking them to consider setting up a Hedgehog Highway to link the various gardens. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has lots of information and will supply you with leaflets that you can hand out
Thanks @AnniD. Yeah, I was going to enclose them in a plastic or wooden box type thing. I can't leave it out or the neighbour's cats will eat it and I'm not encouraging them. We're turning our front garden over to wildlife, and luckily I'm on the corner near the council hedgerows and the open fields/ marsh area, so I don't have to cut holes in the neighbours fences
Just a question. Isn't it a bit late for hogs to be mating? A poor female has been relentlessly pursued by a male for two nights now, would they still have young this late in the season?
As far as l'm aware it is possible @purplerallim. The problem then is that they produce what are known as "Autumn juveniles" who are at risk of not gaining enough weight before the hibernation period begins. Many struggle and can end up in rescues over winter if they're lucky, ready to be released when they reach a good weight in Spring.
If nothing else @Songbird-1, put out a dish of water, especially with the warmer weather forecast for the end of the week. Those cameras are brilliant, l look forward to seeing the results every morning 🦔
There is still mating activities going on with the hedgehogs in this garden too Purpleallium. I feed them all year round so there won't be any underweight babies here. I'm a slave to the wildlife in our garden. I'm getting through 50 fat balls a week not to mention sunflower hearts, car biscuits for the hogs! It's like having a smallholding! Lovely news Songbird! You will be a regular visitor to this thread now! I watch a visiting hog limbo under our gate each night!
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-53585627
My advice would be to set up the feeding station and see what happens (l'm assuming that you're enclosing the food in some way and not leaving the dishes out in the open).
If the hedgehogs can gain entrance into your garden, believe me, they'll find it !
If you get on with your neighbours, it may be worth asking them to consider setting up a Hedgehog Highway to link the various gardens. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has lots of information and will supply you with leaflets that you can hand out
Those cameras are brilliant, l look forward to seeing the results every morning 🦔
Lovely news Songbird! You will be a regular visitor to this thread now!
I watch a visiting hog limbo under our gate each night!