After my last post, I have to say that so far this evening we have seen no hogs at the feeding bowl - the first time since February. I had slightly altered their diet 10 days ago, adding a few pieces of chopped apple, some halved natural peanuts and a few raisins as well as their usual Spikes hog food.
On Monday we had three - one large adult and two teenagers. On Tuesday we found one of the younger ones roaming around in the daytime with about a dozen tics on its spines - it went to the rescue centre who will treat and feed it and return to us in the Spring.Now we have none.
Never mind @Guernsey Donkey2 , at least you saved one that probably would not have made it through the winter otherwise. I dropped a load of shredded newspaper and some food at our local rescue yesterday. As fast as they move them from "intensive care" into the normal cages, they fill up again. Even though she posts on Social media and on the answer phone that they are full, people persist in bringing hogs along, and some of them can get really abusive. The people that is, not the hedgehogs.
I am sure your generosity will be appreciated by the rescue centre staff Anni - it is surprising how many people take injured creatures to our rescue centre to be nursed back to health but don't give a donation. I usually include some money with the animals we take up to the shelter that are in need of some tlc.(mostly hedgehogs). Our daughter and her partner are part time night wardens there so I know first hand just what a fantastic job the centre does - at the mo among the 100's of creatures they have a baby seal that was washed up in the gales recently, as well as over 100 hogs.
I just love hedgehogs @Guernsey Donkey2 ! It amazes me that she has people turn up with food or money, on the proviso that they can let their children see the hedgehogs, as if the rescue is some kind of exhibition. She explains that 1. They are wild creatures. 2. They are stressed, injured etc. People have sworn at her and taken the food etc. away. Sometimes l despair !
I have had no hedgehogs since October after a now show summer.I will still be putting out food all winter as I have always done.Have had them visit throughout the winter many years in the past.Hog house is waiting ready with dry hay. I feel so bereft this year as I have seen only a single hog where previously I have had up to 5 a night and 3 at a time sleeping in the hog house. Maybe they will return next year?
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
They do seem to come and go @madpenguin. I have had years when l could set my watch by them, and then they just stop coming, sometimes for weeks, sometimes they don't return until the following year. The photo above is of one in my local rescue. They are all cute, but there is something about this one, he is such a character!
Sometimes it takes them a while to start using houses Del. We had one in our garden, fitted all the criteria, but no takers. My husband built a second one, so we gave the first to a neighbour. Within a week there was a hog using it. Luckily one starting using our newer one, but it took a few months. The dish of food left by the doorway may have helped !
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I feel so bereft this year as I have seen only a single hog where previously I have had up to 5 a night and 3 at a time sleeping in the hog house.
Maybe they will return next year?