Moving house

[Pooh72]

We are moving house but have 2 hedgehogs that live in our garden. Would it be awful if we took them with us. I’m worried the new owners won’t feed them.

[Nic]

Hi Pooh72

I understand your sentiments but yes, it would be awful if you took them with you. The hedgehogs won’t have been spending their time exclusively in your garden, even if they have been nesting there recently. They have ranges which they get to know very well and if they were taken elsewhere they would likely be disoriented and find it very stressful.

It is also possible that they could introduce infection, to which they may themselves be resistant, into another area, potentially putting any hedgehogs in the new area at risk.

It’s entirely possible that those two hedgehogs are known to other people in the area. Male hedgehogs can apparently travel up to 2 miles in their nightly wanderings. So others may already been keeping an eye on them.

There is more information in this: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/guidance-on-releasing-rehabilitated-hedgehogs/ It is about releasing hedgehogs after they have been with carers, but applies similarly.

I don’t know what the circumstances are, i.e. would you have an opportunity to speak to the prospective owners and tell them about the hogs/ ask neighbours to keep an eye on them/ leave some information about hedgehogs in the house/etc.

Good luck with your move – hopefully there will be hedgehogs where you move.

[Pooh72]

Thankyou so much for this and sorry for the late reply.
I spoke to my neighbours behind me. They have a hole in the fence and I’m pretty sure the hedgehogs go over there every night. Will put the ring camera there and check.
They have agreed to put a house up and feed them when we have gone. Just need to start teaching them that there will food and shelter available there too.
We don’t have a buyer yet,but I will speak to the new buyer and Hooe they are animal lovers. 🤞

[Author]

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