The Hedgehog Thread

The thread for all things hedgehog!

That's a mole ..... with his hole.
But I do like hedgehogs.

flavoured crisps ?

nyom nyom

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/01/hedgehog-apocalypse-extinction-britain-favourite-mammal

Arrrgh, where is my mind?

Edited image!
: ]

click here

Become a hedgehog hero by counting them in Regents Park one night.
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/managing-the-parks/conservation-and-improvement-projects/hedgehogs/help

I built this for my mother last Christmas.

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..that's awesome!

Did a hedgehog move in yet?

We rescued one in Sonning a while back. Was trapped in a gutter-thing. I scooped it up and put it in the gutter-owner's house's garden. Depressingly have seen two squashed ones on commute this week :(

One of my locals.

I've since moved the food into a wooden feeding station so that I don't have to spend £££££ feeding massive piles of hedgehog biscuits to the local foxes

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Is your mother a hedgehog?

Over the last two years I have constructed a number of hibernation hides for the little critters. This year had a family of 3 hedgies (2 big, 1 little - soooo sweeeeet!) visiting the garden every night so we're more than happy to put a plate of pet food out for them. A month ago our neighbour told us the shocking news that a fox had killed two of them. Since then, hoping for the best, we have continued to put food out which has been eaten but we know not by what. I have just constructed a food hide to stop larger predators taking the grub. Cross your fingers everyone.

Have you got hedgepig hide/feeder plans. Despite all our woodland our wildlife camera has yet to see a hedgehog- possibly not helped by the large badger sets and local foxes.

Did a hedgehog move in yet?

I don't know yet - have got one of these to try out before they curl up for the winter ...https://www.wildcare.co.uk/tracking-tunnel-1.html

Not sure what you mean by that.

How did you make the hides?

How long until someone mentions 'clay' and 'fire' in the culinary uses thread?

The hibernation hides were made with reference to an online source - BBC Wildlife, I think. They are undisturbed so I can't say they have ever been used. The food station (located in exactly the same place they have been noshing for weeks now) is a few limestone blocks forming a mini tunnel with inturned entry and exit to make it difficult for crafty Mr Fox to get his wicked paws and jaws of doom in there.

From the latest Regents Park Hedgehog Heroes newsletter:

Findings from the September spotlighting surveys
With the help of our wonderful Hedgehog Heroes (you guys!), we recorded 30 individual hedgehogs, 12 males and 18 females. This includes 10 juveniles from this year’s breeding season. All animals appeared healthy, were a decent weight (the largest was 1210g) and the majority seem to be 1 or 2 years old but we did find a couple that were at least 3 years old.

In September 2017 we found 36 individuals (which included 17 juveniles) so numbers are down a little from last year but not dramatically. We have also had ad hoc reports of untagged hedgehogs in the park - we definitely missed a few individuals when surveying. As always, we have our fingers crossed for a good winter survival as the population remains small and vulnerable.

The hedgehog distribution across Regent’s Park continues to vary from year to year for reasons that are not fully understood, but current hotspots include Cumberland Green, Gloucester Green, St John’s Lodge and the Zoo car park. You’ll find a map showing the capture locations attached. The majority of juveniles were found in the St John’s Lodge area and wildlife pens suggesting breeding nests nearby. The sports pitches also proved popular with more individuals found in this area compared to previous years. One hypothesis for this shift in distribution is due to the hot and dry summer we had… the sports pitches are irrigated daily so the damper ground may have provided good foraging. We’ll have to see what next year’s results show. Queen Mary’s Garden, Avenue Gardens and Regent’s University (the southern part of the park) remain quiet.

Historical surveys here:
https://www.royalparks.org.uk/managing-the-parks/conservation-and-improvement-projects/hedgehogs/hedgehog-research-reports

TL;DR 30 hedgepigs found vs 36 last time, but no need for concern.

https://twitter.com/JarlathFlynn/status/1064252310774317057

wow!!

Had to evict this wee critter from the garage last night. I think they're attracted by the many spiders to eat. Thankfully I have MIG-welding gauntlets to pick them up with.

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it's probably looking for somewhere warm to hibernate, have you considered making it a little den for the winter or somewhere safe

There are two hedgehog houses in the back garden. Especially made for the little blighters. Anyway, it's too early for hibernation - they're after the spiders.