Hi Mavisness
Do you know for sure that it was a Badger killed the hog?
Been watching our local Badgers in the Woods for Quite a wile now and have not seen them kill a hedgehog in all the sightings I have had so Far. Badgers much prefer Worms and other types of food. Think Hogs are not there main meal only if they are competing for the same food and the food is very scarce in that location a hunger badger then may turn on a Headgehog for food.
There are other predators out there that could also readily take a hedgehog.
Raptors i.e. Birds of pray are more than equipped to take a Hog. Many Raptors are now recovering in the UK after there decline due to interferance of Man. Since being reintroduced in some places across the Uk. In our area we used to see a lot of rabbits but over the years they have seemed to have declined, but Raptors like the common Buzzard have increased.
Also in areas like the Forest of Dean where wild Boar exist they will also kill and eat Hogs for food.
It Takes a while for Nature to balance itself out again. Where Predator & Pray return to an equilibrium.
Man made Problems like, Roads, Slug pellets, feeding Hogs Milk, Loss of habitat, Pet Dog encounters both in Gardens & Wild can all have an effect on the wildlife around Us. Roads are the biggest killers of Hogs, Rabbits, Foxes, Badgers and Many other animals. Animals are killed on our roads every year trying to cross them due to habitat loss.
Nature on the other hand Pray or Predator will balance themselves out with out interference from Man.
Any thing we can do to reduce these Man made Problems would be the best idea. Provide Hog hole to allow them to move freely. A ban on pesticides like Slug Pellets.
Make Underpasses across roads from field too field allowing animals to access land safely. Study the Land for Housing development first for impact on the local wildlife and create green spaces to protect wildlife in the Housing Development plan.
Try not to encourage hogs in to the garden with food only in the colder months and Milk a NO NO!
There is plenty of natural food for hogs to eat like Slugs, Worms & insects in a Garden. This will also reduces pet encounters in the garden.
When walking a dog where possible in wild habitats like forests etc keep them on a lead. This will reduce chances of them interfering with Hogs in the wild.
This is what we need to do as Nature will take care of itself if Man just interferes with it less and Just enjoy what we have around Us.
Take nothing but Photographs leave nothing but footprints.
