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Hedgehogs are struggling!
- Phill (13th Jul 2018 - 18:26:40)
At last we've had a tiny bit of rain, but not enough to help our garden wildlife. The long dry period means less food and, of course, little or no surface water to drink from. This is apparent from the unusually high number or hedgehogs we are seeing recently, in poor condition and, in one case, nearly drowned having fallen in a pond trying to get to the water.
It would be fantastic if everyone could do one simple thing- put a big (but shallow) bowl of water outside and keep it topped up. Collecting nectar and pollen is also thirsty work, so if you put a stone in the middle just emerging from the water, bees and butterflies will also thank you
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Ideally, put out a dish of some meaty cat or dog food overnight too. In fact, feeding hedgehogs in this way is the best thing any of us can do to help our 'gardener's friends' throughout the year. If you want to go the whole 'hog' ;-) we have a couple of purpose-made feeding boxes which stop the neighbour's cat or the local fox getting to the food, sold on behalf of Hart Wildlife Rescue.
Lastly, every pond needs an easy means of escape for accident-prone hedgehogs. Even frogs and toads need to be able to climb out and disperse. Gently sloping sides or some strategically placed stones will do the job.
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- A.R (13th Jul 2018 - 19:33:11)
It has been very bad for the wildlife these last few weeks. I have containers of water for all sizes , bees included. I have foxes coming up our lane so have water bowls out for them.
I used to see plenty of hedgehogs around here, but unfortunately they are in decline, many having been run over on the Haslemere road over the last few years.
I do hope there may be some plants that survive for making pollen. I have not seen any bees around at all, which is a little worrying.
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- ginny (13th Jul 2018 - 21:30:37)
I see at least one hedgehog in our garden most nights, eating up the high energy bird food (including mealworms and suet pellets) from my ground feeder, and drinking the water I put out. The bonus is, the slug population of the garden has noticeably reduced. The downside is that my dog constantly wants to go out in the night to investigate the visitor(s)!. I love to see them though.
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- AA (14th Jul 2018 - 11:14:45)
We get them in our garden every night, and I’ve been putting food and water out for a while now. Last week we saw 4 together. They’re drinking much more water now than on previous visits.
We’re right in the centre of Liphook, and when I mention them to people often seem surprised that they live here.
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- Ann (17th Jul 2018 - 17:19:22)
I have four hedgehogs who come for their supper every evening. I feed them turkey mince and chicken and turkey wet dog food.
Last year I fed them dried mealworms and sunflower hearts and was mortified earlier on this year to read the calcium Phosphorous levels are totally wrong for hedgehogs and rescue centres are seeing increasing numbers of hogs with osteoarthritis and other skeletal problems. caused by eating mealworms and sunflower seeds Don't feed fish based food. .
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- Phill (18th Jul 2018 - 20:49:44)
A really good point there about bone disorders if hedgehogs are fed the wrong food. Sadly I've had to euthanise two this year with 'folding' bones, having been fed calcium deficient food, mainly lean meat.
Well done everyone feeding and watering their wildlife.
Phill (Small World Vet Centre)
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- AA (18th Jul 2018 - 22:48:44)
I give them water and the hedgehog food from the garden centre.
We seem to have a decent number round here - I’ve seen them near Sainsbury’s, and near the station. If more people were aware of them, I’m sure more would try to help them out.
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- sidge (19th Jul 2018 - 20:02:28)
I have hedgehog envy! So glad to hear they are still thriving in some parts of Liphook. Despite food availability and a nice hedgehog sized gap in our fence, no takers. Probably something to do with the horrible big housing estate that has been built behind us...
I feed and put water out for the birds, but thank you for the tips for other wildlife.
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Re: Hedgehogs are struggling!
- Donna (20th Jul 2018 - 06:45:07)
You could always consider rehoming some Hedgehogs? My mum re-homed 6 into her garden and 4 of them still hang around and come for their supper each night,
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