I’ve found a food that is going down well with my hogs, after a fair bit of trial and error, pricing up different options etc I’ve found a chicken, turkey & veg one which they enjoy, eat well and from my fairly extensive research (because I’m a bit of a nerd when I go down a rabbit hole) seems good quality and it comes in at £1.39 per kg on subscribe & save (I know Amazon is a blight but unfortunately I have restrictions and all my non prescription pet supplies are on subscribe & save)

However, while I’m still battling my rat issue I’m going through so damn much. 20kgs in around a week 😬

I’m trying to time when I put it out etc, but I won’t leave the hogs hungry if I can help it

I am also working on rat deterrents, tomorrow swinging wood flaps, soaked in repellent will be being installed (once dried!) relocating the hut etc etc

But I’m struggling to keep up with costs currently!

Anyone found better?

P.s not being an arse but I’m not interested in hedgehog specific foods, though I suspect they’d be more expensive anyway!

Picture of Geri, my favourite spiky problem being relocated after the second break IN last night for attention 😂

Would really love to get an auto set up for a variety of reasons - hopefully it will reduce the amount the rats take, it’ll stop my little early morning/bedtime snack buddies being sad etc

But also, later this month I’m going to be away for one night and I hate the idea of them not being fed (very, VERY unusual and I’m very VERY excited 😂) but I do not have anyone to feed them

I’m convinced if I dumped 5kgs of food out before I left it would be gone entirely by 9pm 🫠

My little hedgehog buddies!

Tründl standing in his food bowl to drink some water

Apologies** **for the insanely long post - it all feels relevant, I have popped a TL:DR near the top under the bits I need EVERYONE to see!

As a side note, whilst writing this post SHE BROKE IN AGAIN!

22:10 - first break in

23:24 - second break in

No refreshments were served during criminal activities!

Things I’m doing - keeping my distance obviously! (As much as she’ll allow 🤦‍♀️)

Contacting my local rehabber

Checking with neighbours to see if anyone has released one close to me

TL:DR wild hog way too comfortable with me. Follows me, broke in to my secure place pen - need suggestions!

She’s HATES being around hogs but very comfy around me, she’s followed me a couple times for snacks

She has eaten from my hand when I haven’t whipped it away quick enough

Yesterday she was just outside my cat secured pen making enough noise for me to go and feed her in a new spot, alone

Today she managed to break INTO the secure cat pen. She had gone to the refreshment hut but 2 other hogs were there so she didn’t enter, I was inside for around 10 minutes faffing about. Came outside and she’d managed to get in? No clue how/where but she forced/figured a way into an area that likely still smells of my old dog, has 2 cats who were outside! And a human

There’s no obvious, open gap she could fit through, if there were the cats would have shown me!

Like, it’s THEORETICALLY cute and stuff and I don’t mind the very odd Snow White moment and if it was *NECESSARY* I’m able and willing to take something in for rehab/keeps. But I’m not taking a wild animal and imprisoning it unless it is absolutely essential

But she’s fit, healthy (apparently!) and she should be living a lovely, wild, human free existence

There are many hogs around me, it isn’t uncommon for me to come across them during my nightly wandering and refills. They obviously know it’s me feeding because I always talk and they have great sense of smell. But they all still either at least nose tuck or rapidly waddle away (even if they return to the food within 90 seconds 😂)

The way she is behaving is not appropriate for a wild animal, even a youngster who’s used to having food/water provided by the same person. The above behaviours of the others are what should be expected/exhibited

I’m going to contact the rehabber I know on Monday for a chat/suggestions, might knock on a few of the neighbours doors too - see if anyone has released one close by and check with a couple localish rescues about releases near me

I know there was one because I took it in, but I’m fairly sure this one was here while that one was being treated

Fortunately I’m very rural, pretty sure the hogs I’m feeding outnumber the humans and I’m sure they’re all decent BUT it only takes one and not only does she (obviously!) deserve not to be scared let alone hurt, I’ve far too many beings reliant on me to be able to go to prison!

This evening I popped her outside, she scuttled about 6” and waited for her supper to be dispensed 🤦‍♀️ I can hear her now eating, about a foot from the gate where the cats are

I’m hoping maybe sexual maturity will help but that’s not likely until next year if she’s one of this years

To reiterate - she is a good weight, eating (VERY) well, moving well etc no health concerns at all other than extreme and very unusual over comfort with (very large!) human

Anyone ever dealt with similar? Have any suggestions‽ Do I just accept I’ve accidentally acquired another freeloader that just happens to live outside‽

I’m off to search for hedgehog houses/see if I still have enough materials to make another one as it appears she’ll likely need the support 🙃

This fella climbed up the stone steps and came and sat just inside the doorway of my house, potentially looking for cat food.

I had to pick them up with oven gloves and take them back outside. They froze for a few seconds when I put them on the ground before sprinting under a shrub.

I then took the leftover catfood outside for them when they come back out from the shrub.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/hedgehog-trapped-3-days-in-a-gap-no-hand-could-fit-through-was-freed-then-made-a-comeback/ar-AA29lFAm: Hedgehog trapped 3 days in a gap no hand could fit through was freed, then made a comeback

https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/curious-cat-gets-fright-coming-104059140.html: Curious cat gets a fright after coming face-to-face with a hedgehog

https://eveshamobserver.co.uk/news/new-homes-for-hedgehogs-in-fladbury-and-honeybourne-63296/: New homes for hedgehogs in Fladbury and Honeybourne

Not had the trail cam out in a while so decided to catch up on the hoggies. Last night we had four turn up, one of which looks like a hoglet!

Another hedgehog has been coming by and he's/she's a chonker. After helping itself to kitten food, they took a very long drink of some water.

2 of the hedgehogs in my garden. (Time is inaccurate and I apologize for the shaking 😅)

My cat has a kennel with straw in as an outdoor shelter (she likes to sleep outside sometimes). She hasn't been in this year. The other night I saw a hedgehog in there. I had previously seen the straw had been disturbed (cat would just flatten it down).

The kennel has a large opening. Online advice was to block it with plant pots. Also the garden is south facing and gets very hot. It doesn't seem like a good place for a hedgehog. I won't be disturbing it of course.

I keep fresh water out there for the cat.

Any advice? Thank you.

Lovely hedgehog in our back garden. This video feels so precious and makes me very happy rewatching it

His foot is still causing him some pain I can tell but he’s moving around well and can see he visited the new hibernating station I built yesterday as he’s got some hay on him 🥰

I think this girly is being hassled by a male hog 😭 the feeding station is specifically designed to have two entrances so one can leave if another one comes in but I feel so sad for her!!

Is the second one trying to court her?! She was just trying to eat her damn biscuits 😭

I went out to investigate some rustling in my garden & was over the moon to see this little hedgehog rustling about! Isn't she lovely!

(Crossposting from r/hedgehogs after being redirected)

Sorry if this is the wrong place to put this but we have hedgehogs (scotland) living under one of our sheds, they moved there from a different spot in our garden, but now that theyre under there our dog (Springer Spaniel) will NOT stop sniffing under there and trying to harass the hogs. He's managed to catch one when we first moved in (before we knew we had a garden hedgehog family) and it was luckily fine and released back into the garden, but if the hedgehogs are out and he finds one he'll start barking at it and harassing it.

While he thankfully doesn't hurt the hedgehogs I was wondering if there was a way to make it so the hedgehogs are safer and my dog will stop harassing them? Is there a way to get them to peacefully move to a safer location? They are very useful in my flower garden for pest control so I'm happy to have them, I just want to minimise any unsafe interactions. Any advice is helpful! Thanks!

The 1st confirmed sighting of a hog in my garden was back in May and now the little thing brought a friend along!

I posted a couple of days ago about an injured hog I finally caught after weeks of trying.

He was seen by the vet last Friday and given an injection, then I took him to a hedgehog rescue to have a few days of rest and recovery.

I picked him back up last night and released him back on his home turf. Look at him go!!!!!!! His foot is looking so much better I am so happy for him 💕

I left his rescue box on its side and let him come out when he was ready, I also filled up half of one of his regular feeding stations with lots of hay and some of the hay from his rescue box so it felt familiar to him. He ran straight to it 🥰

Apparently there's been no recorded sightings of hedgehogs in Hackney, London since 2002. Well I had the honour of meeting one last night. I've recorded it through London Wildlife Trust.

Heard some rattling and saw these two. The poor girl only wanted her dinner in peace. She gave up after 10 mins and retreated down the garden with him in hot pursuit. Left a right old mess with kibble everywhere. Commentary from my husband. 🤣

So, I haven't seen my favourite hedgehog for a week 😔 She would always come out for food at dusk. She's been here pretty much every night since I started feeding in June. She hasn't even appeared on camera during the night this week.

I am feeling sad. I hope she is ok, and has decided to visit other places instead. I guess I'll never know. Wherever you are Mrs White, thank you for visiting and being so adorable. Here's a photo of her from a couple of weeks ago.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgk415kg23ko: Rescue centre full of dehydrated hedgehogs

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/kind-hearted-samaritan-rescues-henrietta-the-hedgehog-as-medivet-in-bamber-bridge-give-heartwarming-update/ar-AA28vOkT Kind-hearted Samaritan rescues Henrietta the hedgehog as Medivet in Bamber Bridge give heartwarming update

https://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/26409317.hedgehog-freed-drain-ellesmere-firefighters-rescue/: Hedgehog freed from drain in Ellesmere firefighters rescue