Hedgehog

[Oleanda]

Our back garden is surrounded by a solid wooden fence, and the gate is also solid wood (more like a door, really). For the past couple of weeks there has been a large patch of what looks like the sort of gunge that you might get on a bike chain on the paving just inside the gate every morning. It isn't grease because it washes off with water and a brush. We have been agonising over what it might be, then last night our security light came on and when my OH went out to investigate, he nearly tripped over a hedgehog on the patio. He came in to get his camera but the hedgehog scuttled off into the bushes. My question is, is the black gunge hedgehog droppings (it doesn't smell), and how did it get in? The gap under the gate is 1.5 inches at most.

[RATTER15]

Look here, what do you think? http://www.google.co....source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

[johnk]

Hedgehogs are excellent climbers or there could be a narrow gap behind some vegetation that you haven't noticed. I'd love a hedgehog as they eat slugs and snails

[redman41]

Has your neighbour lobbed it over the fence from his Garden ? :-)

[Oleanda]

Ratter, there are certainly bits of stuff that look like the pictures, but it is mainly smeared onto the paving, do hedgehogs always go to the loo in the same place?
Maybe it did climb over, there are no gaps, I just checked. Our neighbour is an old lady, I can't imagine her lobbing anything, anywhere!

[RATTER15]

I wouldn't be that surprised if a hedgehog sweazed under the gate, one and a half inches is quite a gap.

[RATTER15]

*squeezed*

[Oleanda]

Thank you.

[Fitzer]

The gunge might be because the animal is unwell, someone in the area may be leaving out bread and milk which is terribly bad for hedgehogs (if you do want to feed it a little wet dog food is excellent). As per previous replies a hedgehog can easily get under a one and a half inch gap and if you're a keen gardener they are an absolute boon, you'll be snail and slug free and the tiny amount of pooh they leave (when well) is a tiny price to pay.

[LoftyLottie]

Hedehog poo is slimy and greasy black and quite gungy. Usually long and thin.

[Oleanda]

He is more than welcome to stay, I've seen very few slugs this year so maybe he's been here longer than we realised. May have to cadge a bit of dog food from next door tonight.