Gills logs and blogs.

 GILLS HOG BLOG.

by Gill Dixon,PGCE,MA,BHScHons,RGN.

More hoglets on the way.

Hedgehogs breed between May and September but the time of greatest breeding activity is in May and June. They reach sexual maturity in their second year.

Rather strangely and possibly unwisely  they attempt a second litter around September and these are less likely to do well as they have to put on an enormous amount of weight to survive the winter. Mothers too may feel compelled to hibernate if temperatures drop sharply and/or food supplies are scarce, and this will leave a number of abandoned hoglets who may need help.

Hedgehogs under 450g are unlikely to survive hibernation, but they may not hibernate at all and this is where humans can assist in their survival.

In recent years I have had hedgehogs visiting my feeding stations throughout the year , suggesting that they do not ALL hibernate perhaps because our winters have become very much milder., or perhaps because I am lucky enough to live where there is lots of natural shelter and food on tap.

Be Mindful.....

Now is the time to be very cautious if you are moving leaf piles, thinking of having a bonfire, clearing hedges, or considering your final garden tidy and getting those strimmers out.

When threatened hedgehogs do not have a fight or flight response, they simply  form an impenetrable ball, but this is no match for a garden strimmer or brush cutter. Please then, start your strimming at a height of six inches, or walk through the area to be strimmed before you start.

Hedgehog nests that are disturbed rarely fair well. The mother hedgehog may abandon or kill her babies when she fears predation of her young. It is not a matter of simply relocating the family.

If you see a hedgehog out in daylight it is generally in trouble but one exception to this is a nursing Mum who may venture out to get a little extra food or gather some bedding. She will be moving with purpose and does not need to be caught.

floofmania.com

Any other hog out in the day, needs the assistance of a rescue. A faecal example will need to be examined under a microscope so please don't think you can easily rescue them yourself.

In October/November people begin to worry about hoglets who may not make a weight that will allow them to hibernate successfully (over 450g). Here at the Palace I receive hedgehogs that have been gathered up at night because the finder, with all good intentions, believes they will perish if not overwintered in a rescue. Whilst this may well be the right decision, PLEASE do not rush to take this course of action. It may be that it can be successfully supported where it is, in the wild where it belongs.. Hedgehogs are very easy to interfere with and interfere we do. If a hedgehog is out at night and you feel it is too small (smaller than a mango) and the weather is mild, please offer food, water and shelter (with warm bedding) and give the hedgehog a chance to gain weight whilst remaining wild. Weight gain can be rapid if plenty of food is made available.

Living the whole of winter in a small wooden hutch or plastic box must be pretty miserable for a wild, nomadic animal and so if we can support them to thrive whilst remaining wild that should be out first course of action.

Of course if they are out in the day or appear to be struggling it is right to intervene. If it is after dusk it should be done when all factors are taken into consideration

• Are they safe where they are?
• Can I offer shelter, food and water?
• Can I monitor them?
• Is the weather reasonably mild?
• Are they alone or with a mother?

I am simply asking that when we intervene we do so with consideration for what is in the best interest of the animal. It can be a difficult decision and if you are not sure you must  of course err on the side of caution.  An animal that is hard wired to be wild should not, in my opinion be kept in a small container for months on end unless it is really necessary. If you are not sure please call a rescue who will be happy to advise. 

Please though remember that rescues only have a finite number of spaces and we would always rather they were full of animals needing treatment, not just feeding up.

A list of available rescues can be found here www.yorkshirehedgehogs.co.uk

NB You can support your local hedgehog population by offering kitten biscuits and (very importantly) a shallow bowl of fresh water. 

Gill, has until very recently run a busy and successful hedgehog rescue. She now devotes her time to raising awareness, offering advice, and writing articles about our beloved European Hedgehogs.