Noisey Hedgehog courtship ritual and hoglets!

Hedgehogs have been visiting my garden since April. After having the opportunity to film 2 hedgehogs feeding together in late May, I was even more fortunate to go outside later and hear the courtship ritual and then saw the smaller male circling around the female, nudging her every so often, as they trampled all over my wildflowers! A ‘rasping, grunting’ noise comes in almost continuous bouts. The female made it unmolested to the hedgehog hole in the fence.

Hedgehog friendly fence panel allows free movement from one garden to the next garden

He followed eagerly. The noise continued into my neighbour’s garden. After 20 minutes or so I decided to go to bed it was well past midnight!

Four hedgehogs feeding

For the past few nights beside two large hedgehogs feeding together, a pair of much smaller hoglets follow on shortly afterwards. A few of their white spines, now lessening in numbers, are just still visible. The one on the right is much smaller than the other. Are they the result of the meeting of the hedgehogs in May? Probably!

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 just a few dried mealworms, as too many will not be good for them, 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! They absolutely love it and do not just feed upon the few mealworms in the mix.  Cats don’t like it in the least!!

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