Gills Hog Blog
Post from
Pricklington Palace.
I’ve decided to get
in early with my news re Spring.
The days are just
beginning to get longer, bulbs are poking their leaves through the ground and
with that comes the promise of Spring.
We all love Spring, which
is a good enough reason to mention it but in a recent conversation with a
builder he told me that currently his books are full of requests for the
dismantling and re erection of sheds.
.
Its about being
mindful, and considering the risks of disturbing our now endangered prickly
friends.
If you do dig up a
hibernating hedgehog (they seem to be dead), don’t panic. Gently place the hog
in a box surrounded by the nesting matter and call your nearest rescue for
advice. see www.yorkshirehedgehogs.co.uk) . The BHPS can help too
01584 890 801
The weather is likely to be the biggest factor that determines when we start to see more hedgehogs out and about. Some may not have bothered with hibernation at all, some will sleep through February/March and some will wake early.
If you see any around at the
moment do leave food out for them (cat biscuits are fine) and a
shallow dish of water. If they are not hibernating or have just woken from
hibernation, they really need sustenance.
I have seen a few posts saying that hedgehogs look thin and need to be taken to a rescue. They will be thin if they have been hibernating for months. Unless they look obviously injured and/or distressed and if they are out after dark, just feed them up. A hedgehog out after dark should be left to be a hedgehog.They will show themselves to be ill and in need of help by emerging in daylight.
It is a little early for breeding but worth a mention as our mild weather has confused some hogs and some were seen to be mating over the winter months. A hedgehog who is out in daylight but is moving with purpose should be left alone. They can be quite brazen when they are intent on nesting or in search of a little extra sustenance. If you find babies DO NOT handle them. Mother hogs will kill and /or eat babies that have human scent on them or if they are feeling threatened. Mothers will often abandon nests temporarily but they WILL return (sometimes hours later).
Please try not to interfere any more that you really have to.
Don't forget those highways!!! Now is the time to ensure they have free access into and out of your garden (and educate your neighbours too). Some great highway signs available here (but the hole 13 cm square) is more important than this signage. https://hedgehogsrus.co.uk/shop/ols/products/hedgehog-highway-surround
Those gardeners amongst us will want to take up our rakes and spades as soon as there is a lovely day but PLEASE take care not to disturb any piles of leaves that might have a hibernating hedgehog deep inside them (see the photos below).. Take a few moments to look around the garden for hedgehog hazards. Any drain covers that have blown away should be replaced, loose netting needs to be gathered up, ponds may need new escape ramps, and fences repaired .
Hedgehog nests can be difficult
to spot, so please don’t plunge a rake or pitch fork into a pile of leaves in
your garden.
Take care too if you decide to
use compost from your heap (lovely warm places to hide).
If you want any further
information please feel free to contact me by phone or social media or check
out www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk.
Gill Dixon runs Pricklington Palace Hedgehog rescue in Howden, East Yorks. Purely voluntarily and single handily. Please visit www.facebook.com/pricklingtonpalace/ to support her work. Donations via www.paypal.me/Dixon1829
