Hedgehogs caught out in bad weather
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I’m hoping to get some advice. It’s has started to snow in Bury, Lancashire tonight and a couple of my regular hedgehogs have been out tonight eating the food I put on the hedgehog house.
Will they be ok or do I need to see about catching them and looking after them over the winter. I know it’s been very mild but I’m worried they might not make it as the weather has just turned so quickly.
If you think they will be ok I won’t interfere with them.Hi. I’m sure one of the more experienced members will respond shortly. But what I’ve learned from recently scouring the internet on hedgehog behavior is that they can visit many different gardens in one night, so they may be sheltering nearby and coming to your station for food? My visiting hedgehogs have stopped coming in the past few days (we had snow here too). Someone else told me to offer food for 2 weeks beyond the last nibble just in case there’s still a roaming hedgehog. There seems to be quite a difference in hibernation dates across the forum too. I’d be interested to know if this is linked to location.
Hi butterfly2honey
Some hogs choose not to hibernate at all. They don’t seem to mind the cold as long as they have access to food and water. I had one continue to visit through one of those very cold winters and another when it snowed. The one in the snow missed a couple of nights when the snow was quite deep, but then he made his way through and continued to visit for the rest of the winter.
The only difference in their behaviour is that they seem to like to have naps between snacks – maybe a chance to warm up a bit – so a hog box (or boxes) nearby, with nesting material outside so they can take it in, is useful. The ‘snow’ hog actually built what looked like a hibernaculum but only used it for naps and occasional day stays – so he obviously had another nest elsewhere to spend the other days.
So I think the hogs there should be ok as long as you provide food and water. Of course they still might decide to hibernate. Females need to put on enough weight after their hoglets have moved on, so are sometimes around quite late.
It’s very stressful for hogs to be in any kind of captivity, so my feeling is it’s best to leave them in the wild and continue feeding them (and providing water all day every day) and keeping an eye on them. The exception to that would be if they were very small hoglets – probably below about 400g to 450g this late in the year. In that case it would be a good idea to take the advice of a local hog rescue who would be more familiar with climate conditions in your area.
Hibernation time is always worrying and is probably the most risky ‘natural’ time for hedgehogs. Sadly not all will survive even if circumstances appear to be positive – and whether they decide to hibernate or not. We can help by providing suitable places for them to nest (i.e. hog boxes, bushes), nesting materials (medium sized leaves, long grasses, etc.) and offer food and water if they choose not to hibernate and then allow those that are big enough to do what hedgehogs have always done through the ages.
Good luck to the hogs there and to all hogs everywhere during hibernation time. Happy hog watching.
Thank you for your advice. I will keep providing food and water for it. I have blink cameras outside and inside my hedgehog box so I’ll just keep monitoring it.
Last night I went out and put more food out while it was in the box and it’s a good size hedgehog and it comes and goes up to 15 times from dusk to dawn.
I know they are wild animals but I feel so responsible for all the birds, squirrels and hedgehogs that visit my garden and constantly make sure there is enough food and water for them all.I am in the same situation here at North Manchester, usually by now all my hedgehogs have disappeared but I have had one (smallish) suddenly turn up, I do not think its one from the rest of the year because of its size. It has been feeding every night with the Mrs Brambles food and pellets and water, even in MINUS 5!!! So I have been feeding it twice a night, once around 8 ish then it turns up after about 4 hours later and devours another plate full of food !. My worry is though I am away next week for a few day and therefore my little hog wont be fed by me for about 3 nights!. I just hope it makes it through those few nights? I have a fully kitted out box for it at the bottom of the garden sheltered but it must be comfy elsewhere as it doesn’t seem interested. Thanks again Nic for your very useful help and advice.
Hi mikesouth
As you are going to be away (and unless you can get someone else to put out some food) I would try to weigh the little one and take advice from a local hog rescue. Depending on how small he/she is 3 days is a long time for a small hog if you can’t be sure anyone else in the area is also feeding it.
One of the hogs may make use of your box later on. It’s always good to give them some options – even if they don’t alway show their gratitude!
Good luck. I hope all goes well.
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