Hedgehog House

[Drusilla]

I bought one of these to place at the bottom of our garden for hibernating hedgehogs and I've even dried out leaves for bedding, as the manufacturers believe hay or straw might tangle in the hedgehogs legs and cut off its blood supply. The problem is no hedgehogs seem interested and I know we've got them because my kitten saw one and ran into our living room to hide behind the computer table. (A coward like me)
Does anyone have any suggestions how to encourage Mr or Mrs Prickles?

[WendyS]

Hi Drusilla - Isn't is frustrating when you go to all the trouble to create executive homes for wildlife and then they ignore them? Firstly, do you have plenty of access for the hedgehogs via other gardens, either via open paths or holes in hedges, fences, etc so that they have easy access ? Secondly, they would normally be hibernating soundly at this time of year and not making much of an appearance unless they were very hungry, so your kitten might have spotted one on its odd hungry foragaging expedition, after which it will probably have gone back to its original nest to sleep again. However if you leave out the odd small saucer of catfood it may visit you again if there's a milder night which causes it to wake up (but you'll probably never know whether a hedgehog ate the food or a noctural cat). If they learn that food is available regularly in your garden this might encourage them to visit during warmer months & investigate your hibernating box, unless there are other better suited environments around, (like under neighbouring garden sheds, etc.). Check your kitten thorough after any hedgehog encounters though as they're usually lousy with fleas !

[logman]

I'm suprised they are not already in hibernation. The only thing i can think of is leaving some offerings near the entrance to entice them. I would suggest a small dish of goats milk (not cows) may do the trick.

[Drusilla]

It is frustrating, Wendy S. I bought it in the summer and it's been in the garden since August. I'd heard tales of hedgehogs hibernating under bonfires and in compost heaps and I felt sorry for them. What a mug!
There are plenty of access points this year, but I'm going to start a major re-fencing campaign soon to stop the kitten escaping from the garden.
I wouldn't be surprised if the kitten adopts it as a cat kennel. :-) Nothing would surprise me with our kitten.

[Lonnie]

If there's a Hedgehog abroad at this time of year, not neccesarily, but its quite likely not well, TB, Flu, Pneumonia, among other things.

[Drusilla]

Thanks lonnie, I'll remember that because I don't want my kitten contracting anything. I had assumed hedgehogs were like grey squirrels and semi-hibernated, then went on a belly filling trip before popping back to their bed.

[clair3934]

The reason hedghogs are out and about at this time of year is that we are having a very mild winter and its confuseing them they think the warmer weather means its spring so they wake up but they find that there is no food around and so try to go back to sleep, but as they have woken up they have used up fat reserves looking for food that they need for hybernation and so my well end up dieing as a result, if we see any hedgehogs about at this time of year we should take them inside and feed them cat food and give them water to drink and contact a rescue agency about them they will either come and collect it or tell you how to look after it until spring. hope this helps. :-)

[Drusilla]

Hi clair, my father advised me to put some cat food down for 'Spikey', but I haven't had time to check whether it's gone yet, as I'm having a few problems with my six year old this afternoon. I'm thinking of making her live in the hedgehog house!!:-)