Definitely Hosta, as rescues have recently discovered, hibernation is less of a constant state and more of an 'awaken when the temperatures rise' be that mild winter spells too
This one visited pretty much throughout the winter. I don’t think it went into hibernation at all. I’d need to check though the recordings but he / she certainly came out to feed in several degrees below zero.
Indeed Dave, if a food source is available there is a reduced need to hibernate. The one in your recent picture looks like an autumn juvenile so may well not have weighed enough for hibernation at all
Hooray - saw a hedgehog in our garden this morning for the first time in absolutely ages. Admittedly you have to be awake at 4.00 to 4.30 in the morning to see them around ours, so credit goes to the cat going through our wheelie bins for waking me up. So relieved though, as I was afraid that our local population had been completely decimated as I hadn't seen any trace since last Summer when they stopped taking food, but this morning a chubby one was taking a lot of time examining the whole area.
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill
I have seen hedgehogs in the past few days so am very pleased they have survived the winter. Normally the appear about 9pm to 10pm onwards. They looked quite well fed and have given them some cat food.
We had 3 outside our patio doors last night - there was plenty of noise and at least 30 minutes of circling - not sure if he got his way - time will tell.
I like to leave some food out in a few different corners of my garden. I find that they like mealworms a lot too and that this mix from brinvale is very popular (https://www.brinvale.com/products/hedgehog-biscuit-boost.html). Mine have been coming in and out since the snow from the hedgehog house and seem to be filling up on food constantly at the moment!
Nope, mealworms are like junk food for hogs, depleting their bones of calcium over time.
I used to mix a dozen or so mealworms in with my branded hedgehog food - the hogs couldn't get enough of them and then I read your warning (last year some time) saying meal worms were no good for them. I gradually put out less of the mw and now they don't have any - I still have visiting hogs eating the proprietary brand of food and the hogs visit almost every night - sometimes 3 or 4 times and with their mates too!
I've just realised the other poster was an advertising spammer. Popped in to Tesco to see they are selling £2 hog food with a slogan expelling the bread & milk rumour, I'm impressed. It's good to see the word being spread commercially. Does anyone know if other supermarkets are doing some too?
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I've just realised the other poster was an advertising spammer. Popped in to Tesco to see they are selling £2 hog food with a slogan expelling the bread & milk rumour, I'm impressed. It's good to see the word being spread commercially. Does anyone know if other supermarkets are doing some too?