Badger attack on hedgehog at feeding station
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I was surprised to find my hedgehog feeding station box in a different place this morning and on my trail camera discovered why. Firstly I saw one hedgehog go into the box and I think a further one came down at the same time, not sure but came straight out again .but then it captured a badger attacking the hedgehog which rolled into a ball right in front of the camera . The badger kept attacking .I don’t know what ended up happening to it though as the action went out of camera view. It then got triggered again with the badger attacking the feeding box trying to lift it. It managed to drag it a little but the brick seemed to stop it from overturning it and it couldn’t get in , not sure whether the other hedgehog was in there! I cant see any signs of injured or remains of hedgehog as yet.
Although it is nature it was a bit traumatic to watch and I’m not sure what to do now as the badger obviously knows where they come . Also the hedgehogs might not come . Any suggestions? I could maybe move the box to the other side of the metal gate which hedgehogs pass through., not sure if badger can depends how thin they can make themselves.Hi,
We had a similar issue recently when a badger unexpectedly came into the garden for the first time. Having researched the behaviour I concluded that the badger took the opportunity while the hog was eating from a food dish, but they generally don’t go looking for hogs. The badger has continued to visit nearly every night, and although the hogs initially stayed away for a couple of nights they soon came back. I didn’t put any food out for a few nights after it happened but have now started to spread a small amount of food over the lawn and avoid using food dishes, so when they’re in the garden at the same time there’s no static meeting place. The badger is coming through the hedgehog hole in the gate so I can’t stop him. They’ve both been in the garden at the same time since without further incident.
It is nature and not nice to see, but they all seem determined to come in so my thought process was just to give them all space to move around and stop them feeding in one place.
Hopefully you find a solution. It might help if you could move the box, but badgers are strong and determined so will still try to get to it if they know the food is there. I don’t know how small a gap they can squeeze through but to get to ours from their sett they are getting through an iron railing with about 4 inch gaps.
Jane
Badgers are the only natural predator for hedgehogs and it’s normal for hogs to leave an area frequented by badgers.
While most badgers will leave hogs alone if there is enough food around, it’s not guaranteed and young badgers especially may just play with them for sport.
Personally I would not continue to feed in an area which has badgers as you are setting up to fail, unfairly in my opinion.
The badger unrolls a hog and eats it’s stomach and what it can reach – you can only imagine the sufferingOh Stef! I live on the edge of a small town in a rural area; luckily no badgers in my garden. I knew badgers were a natural hedgehog predator (and nature is cruel) but you have shocked me senseless 🙁
I had four/five healthy hogs coming through my wildlife friendly garden nightly but nothing for the last six weeks or so. No sight, sound, feed, poo.
I’m on the edge of farmland, I know hedgehogs roam but really hope they haven’t fallen prey to such a cruel death.Oh Stef! I live on the edge of a small town in a rural area; luckily no badgers in my garden. I knew badgers were a natural hedgehog predator (and nature is cruel) but you have shocked me senseless 🙁
I had four/five healthy hogs coming through my wildlife friendly garden nightly but nothing for the last six weeks or so. No sight, sound, feed, poo.
I’m on the edge of farmland, I know hedgehogs roam but really hope they haven’t fallen prey to such a cruel death.Hi Celeste
Sorry to shock you, but it’s really silly for people to assume that a badger won’t attack a hog just because it hasn’t – yet
Often hogs will move away if they come into a badgers territory, although as badgers increase that is harder. But they could also have left an area as they found somewhere better, and it’s also breeding season.
Hopefully your hogs will come back – I’m assuming you put out food for themHi Stef
Yes I put food and water out. Good access to the natural garden, but still no signs. There was a good flow of hedgehogs coming through but suddenly stopped.
There is farmland round, so I hope the hogs have moved to safer climes.
Thank you for your advice, I hope in the fullness of time they might return.We live in large town and we have been here 25 years and I have been feeding hedgehogs for about 13 years with no problems. We’ve never seen a badger anywhere near our house and any suitable habitat is quite a distance away.
I released a hedgehog that came back from rescue 4 weeks and she’s been visiting my feeding station and most of the time now the only hedgehog visiting with occasional visits from a larger hedgehog.
It was windy on Sunday morning and I hurried out the front of my house to rescue something that had blown away and discovered a gruesome sight. I recognized our little hedgehog but I couldn’t believe what I saw. All the descriptions of what a badger does to a hedgehog are completely accurate. I couldn’t believe we’d had a visit from a badger but sifting through the videos on the doorbell camera and I found quite quickly.
It visited again last night and I realized that it was able to squeeze under the gate even though the gap is narrow, based on the time between arriving and leaving. Fortunately it appears that it didn’t find anymore hedgehogs as I decided to check the hedgehog houses (the lid of one was askew despite the bricks on top) and all were empty. I have decided to remove the food from my feeding station for the time being and I have blocked the gap under my gate. The hedgehogs know other entrances but I hope they stay away at the moment.It’s truly heartbreaking to witness the harsh realities of nature, especially when it involves our beloved wildlife. Seeing the hedgehog in such a vulnerable position, and knowing that a badger was involved, must have been distressing. It’s a tough reminder of the challenges these small creatures face in the wild.
Your instinct to protect the hedgehogs is commendable. Moving the feeding station to a safer location, like the other side of the gate, could be a good idea. This way, you might reduce the risk of badger encounters, especially if that area is less accessible for them. Hedgehogs can squeeze through tight spaces, so it’s worth considering how thin a badger might get to access the food.
Additionally, consider placing the feeding station in a more enclosed area or using a hedgehog-specific feeder that’s designed to deter larger animals. Making sure the area is clear of any potential hiding spots for the badger might also help.
Keep an eye on the hedgehog activity over the next few nights. If they seem to be avoiding the station, you might need to adapt your approach further. Your care and concern for these creatures is vital, and every small change can make a significant difference in their safety and well-being.
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