Hedghogs

[Banjoman]

We are fortunate to have a couple of hedghogs in our garden.
With the onset of winter upon us, what can we do to ensure they have a safe and friendly enviroment for hibernation?

[burnhal]

Provided there is plenty of food available and the hogs have put on enough weight to survive the winter, there is not a lot you can do other than leave them an area undisturbed. There is no guarantee they will hibernate in your garden anyway. But if you want to go the whole (hedge)hog then you could try this

http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature/mammals/h edgehoghouse.htm

[PatriciaH]

Hedgehogs love tinned dog food and dont forget the water-put this out for them and they will be ok, they will find their own shelter

[pritchard69]

Best to leave them to it. They're resourceful little critters. And don't worry about the dog food: they won't eat it, because they'll be asleep.

[Banjoman]

Thanks everyone. Your comments are much appreciated

[woofgang]

I pile up drifts of leaves twigs etc in hidden areas of my garden and usually one or more of these gets occupied. If you are going to do this then be very careful when adding to/tidying the pile, don't do it with a garden fork or anything else sharp

[smurfchops]

I read somewhere you shouldn't give them milk, it is too rich for them, just water, and as PatriciaH said, they love tinned pet food. Lucky you! We haven't had hedgehogs around here for years.

[MrsM]

The other evening on Ideal World they were selling a Hedghog Homes. Made out of wood for them to hybernate in for the winter period with quite a small opening for them to get in and out. They were real cute! I felt that they were a little expensive at nearly �40

You could always try making them one

Jx

[honkytonkman]

If you're lucky enough to have spikeypigs living in your garden then I'd buy them a little house to live in. Most gardens these days are too tidy/manicured and lack the necessary compost heaps, mounds of leaves and piles of old logs that hedgehogs seek out.

The love tinned dog food and also cat food, but avoid the fishy flavours as this isn't good for them. And of course, put out a saucer of water for them, NOT milk. Hedgehogs have a tendency to wake up on unseasonally warm periods in winter so may need to top up on food at these times, so be ready with a saucer of dog food.

You'll find loads of info here:
http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk

[logman]

I once spent most of a weekend building a hedghog hibernation house, which turned out to be a big hit with a swarm of agresive wasps when i went to check. a good tip for wildlife gardeners is not to be too neat and tidy, heap up lots of fallen leaves under hedges and shrubs and let nature take its course. cows milk will give them the squits but goats milk is fine

[funnywebsite]

Logman, at least you made somebody happy!