Hedgehogs feasting in my wildlife garden!
Hedgehogs have been visiting my garden since April. There were 2 adults followed by 2 hoglets later in the year. In the video, you will see how much the hoglets have increased in size.
Aug. 10. Not seen the 3 hoglets feeding together again since I filmed them, probably went their separate ways, although still having hedgehogs feeding but separately now.
2 larger adults have been feeing together then followed by 2 smaller hoglets. I have not seen all 4 together but did see 3 together, possibly mother and her hoglets, who have increasingly been visiting together without any adult. I have watched some of them drinking from my pond before their feast, especially after a day of hot weather. On duller days they tend to go straight to the food. Increasingly the hoglets will become independent and break away from their mother and each other.
My hedgehog feeding station, designed to make life difficult for cats to enter, would be too small for these 3 large hogs now!!
Why use an organic food mix?
Many people use cat food, dog food or mince to attract hedgehogs. It simply attracts cats in my garden. My hedgehog food recipe is a mixture of organic ingredients: muesli, peanut butter, rapeseed cooking oil, mixed with sunflower hearts and dried mealworms all soaked in hot water and mixed. Very easy and cheap to make, fresh every night. It smells lovely!! Organic food standards do not permit any hydrogenated fats or unsustainable palm oils both of which can be found in peanut butter or cooking oils. My conscience is clear! Looks like they are thriving on it. They absolutely love it. Cats don’t!!
NB. As ever things change and science moves on. I would not recommend my food mixture anymore there are better foods available, in particular dried mealworms. This article should be read from the Hedgehog Street website. “What to feed hedgehogs and the danger of too many mealworms”
You can see David Attenborough’s film Hedgehog mating rituals- Life of Mammals here
Some useful advice Caring for hoglets
More information from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Make your garden hedgehog friendly with useful tips from Hedgehog Street
So very envious!!!
Marian
Well Marian, I would dearly love to make you even more envious as I do have 4 hogs.. but I doubt I will get them on film feeding together!! Cheers for now, George
I have tried to create a wildlife garden, I must be doing ok as I now have 3 hedgehogs visit my garden even though I have a cat. I have put in a pond with a sloping edge , but I must say your pond looks amazing, it is also helpful to see the video on the mosquitoes as I have them in my pond. I have struggled with the edging bit of the pond, as I read not to put stones around the edges because in hot weather the tadpoles can get stuck to them, so I have yet to finish the surrounding of the pond, yet you do have small stones around yours, so I am a bit confused what to do. Sandra
Hi Sandra, watch this space re my pond. I am not satisfied with the edging and will be doing something different to it soon. Cheers, George
Hi George, I am just giving an update as I asked you a while back about the Ivy my neighbours had cut back and you said it would grow back. Well it has and its been a real treat , yesterday there were 2 red admiral butterflies lots of bees , wasps and fly feeding on the flowers. I still have my hedgehog , I only see one at a time. I have had my first catterpillers in the garden after planting this summer Francis e lester , the rose has now got lots of rosehips. I have had hoverflys visiting the pond in the summer and also I have seen just the once a dragon fly or something similar land on one of the grasses surrounding it. I. have had a few ladybirds in the last few days in the garden, it is amazing in a city garden what arrives when you plant for wildlife, its been a joy. Sandra
As the RSPB say Sandra, give wildlife a home and it will come. Your garden sounds lovely! Thanks for sharing, George
Hi George
Have rescued a very small hog, had it for over a week now, safely tucked away in an area where no cats can enter, in a box stuffed with lots of straw and leaves, it can easily get out to feast which its doing rather a lot!! Very reluctant to release as it’s quite small its not making any attempt to get out. The nights here are getting quite cold. I feel hibernation for this little hog would be better and safer if I kept it in these surroundings over winter. What do you think??
Marian
Hi Marian, I would get fat and feed and feed it. You may be able to tempt it to hibernate though it will need to gain weight for it to survive hibernation.Download this leaflet and keep me posted please. Cheers, George http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/leaflets/L15-Autumn-Juveniles.pdf
Hi george. Have read the hog article and will overwinter the hog we have adopted. I believe ideal weight should be 650grms. This one is below that. Taking food regularly. Enjoys your suggested food mix, empty dish in the mornings! But….I would have loved to see its antics last night!! We put a thick large basket on its side full of dry horse chestnut leaves. Looked this morning expecting it to be tucked up inside, but nearly every leaf removed and it’s built itself a covering in the corner of the area where we are keeping it. I will point out that this is a safe covered area and has a half stable type doorway. No cats can enter. This little hog has a good appetite pleased to report.
I will keep you posted. Regards as always Marian
Maria, get some hay its easier for them to manage. Straw is not as good but better than nothing. Had several successes with attracting hogs to hibernate 🙂 Cheers for now, George