Sorry you are feeling rough Mark. Our hedgehog is still turning up, as far as l can tell it's only the one. Nothing wrong with his/her appetite and the water is going down well.
I could never put food out for hedgehogs here as next doors cats would eat it.
Two years ago when we first arrived here we found a large hedgehog out on the road (quiet cul de sac but still worried) in the day. I think the prepararions for a street party had disturbed him. I took him into the garden shed, gave him cat food and water and he ate it all then went to sleep in a covered box there. I had checked him over, no injuries and a good weight so i left him to sleep until 9pm then released him under a hedge. We have since heard and seen two males making a lot of noise around a female in the following may but nothing since
You certainly did that hog a favour Bijdezee - well done. They shouldn't be out in the day, there is often a reason for this, and as you rightly said it may have been disturbed in preparation for the street party. I found one a few weeks ago, a hot Saturday afternoon, gave it some water which he drank and off he went to hide up until night time - that was lucky, usually they are very ill if they wander out during the day. I had four in my garden last night, we give them specially prepared hog food, which I have found that the cats don't seem to like. There are always a few bowls of fresh water, which the birds, next door's cat and the hogs drink from.
@Bijdezee Keep feeding, I'm sure they will return. If you google or youtube hedgehog feeding station, it shows how you can stop cats and foxes from gaining access to the box. Just place against a wall or shed/garage door with a tiny hedgehog sized gap with a brick on the top. Lots of tutorials online
All wildlife needs as much water as possible, I use old plastic Chinese takeaway dishes, place multiple around the front and back garden
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Two years ago when we first arrived here we found a large hedgehog out on the road (quiet cul de sac but still worried) in the day. I think the prepararions for a street party had disturbed him. I took him into the garden shed, gave him cat food and water and he ate it all then went to sleep in a covered box there. I had checked him over, no injuries and a good weight so i left him to sleep until 9pm then released him under a hedge. We have since heard and seen two males making a lot of noise around a female in the following may but nothing since
All wildlife needs as much water as possible, I use old plastic Chinese takeaway dishes, place multiple around the front and back garden
Thanks for the suggestions.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6701965/hedgehogs-dying-thirst-heatwave-weather-uk/
A bowl or shallow tray of water in this weather can literally be a life saver for hedgehogs, frogs etc.