Hedgehogs

periodictable

For the first time ever in over 40 years I came across a hedgehog in a hedgerow bordering a mixed conifer plantation. The elevation is 200m, and the ground not free draining, and most of the surrounding land is either blanket peat or afforested peat, so I was surprised to come across the tyke.
Is it unusual to come across one in such an environment, or is it habitat loss that is forcing them to adapt?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Absolutely normal to find them in such a place. What makes you think otherwise?

Merch

Havent seen a hedgehog in ages
Are they common?nhas the recent years of cold weather had any effect on the population? what kind of places are they found?
Would they be found in urban or suburban areas?

OpenYourEyes

Theyre common, but not seen too often! Anywhere there's hedgerows/piles of leaves and branches etc they can be found - so you wont get them in city centres or suburbs with very finely 'manicured' lawns where the grass is always very short and there are no leaves left under the hedges etc, but should get them in most other places!

periodictable

Lyle Quiet Abdominal wrote: »

Absolutely normal to find them in such a place. What makes you think otherwise?

I'm a forester and have come across pretty much everything else.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They are not often seen in daylight and are retiring animals. Plenty about and hedgerows are perfect. As is damp ground where slugs and worms abound. Absolutely no reason why they won't be there. A very common mammal but seldom seen in rural or wild areas. Most sightings are within the confines of gardens but the vast majority of them are to be found elsewhere.

periodictable

I checked with neighbouring farms-that's 4 people and their families. One guy remembers seeing one 45 years ago, and that was it. We've all seen them as roadkill on drier limestone areas. I can only surmise that they have been been rare locally, but hopefully are going to increase in numbers.

fryup

i've only seen them on the roads as roadkill, but haven't seen many that way in recent years...is that a sign that their numbers are down???

OpenYourEyes

fryup wrote: »

i've only seen them on the roads as roadkill, but haven't seen many that way in recent years...is that a sign that their numbers are down???

Could well be! one of the ways their numbers and population trends are monitored is by changes in the amount that are recorded as roadkill!

kylith

fryup wrote: »

i've only seen them on the roads as roadkill, but haven't seen many that way in recent years...is that a sign that their numbers are down???

I heard a while ago that they're learning not to curl up in response to cars approaching, which is probably why you're seeing less of them as roadkill. I've only seen one in Ireland, in a suburb of Waterford.

In relation to the OP, from the book-learning I have on hedgehogs a damp spot likely to be rich in slugs, worms, and woodlice sounds like just the place to find one.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

periodictable wrote: »

I checked with neighbouring farms-that's 4 people and their families. One guy remembers seeing one 45 years ago, and that was it. We've all seen them as roadkill on drier limestone areas. I can only surmise that they have been been rare locally, but hopefully are going to increase in numbers.

I'm sorry but that is just inaccurate anecdotal evidence. Hedgerows, damp areas, boundaries to forestry are all ideal Hedgehog territory. Just because you don't see this predominately nocturnal animal does not been they are scarce. I know I have had them in my garden for the past 28 years' as I have provided hibernating areas which are used' but I only seem them perhaps once every 3 years. And this is with me consciously looking for them.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

kylith wrote: »

I heard a while ago that they're learning not to curl up in response to cars approaching, which is probably why you're seeing less of them as roadkill. I've only seen one in Ireland, in a suburb of Waterford.

In relation to the OP, from the book-learning I have on hedgehogs a damp spot likely to be rich in slugs, worms, and woodlice sounds like just the place to find one.

There is no evidence for this at all. Roadkill numbers are more or less constant nationally. The suggestion that they would not roll up as defence would also suggest that they are losing an instinct that serves them well against natural predators - this will just not happen from an evolutionary point of view.

Half-cocked

Lyle Quiet Abdominal wrote: »

There is no evidence for this at all. Roadkill numbers are more or less constant nationally. The suggestion that they would not roll up as defence would also suggest that they are losing an instinct that serves them well against natural predators - this will just not happen from an evolutionary point of view.

I've seen them running across roads caught in the headlights - I guess not every hedgehog rolls up. Also, of the 4 individuals that visit my garden, 2 roll up when I approach, the other 2 run for it (and they can move surprisingly fast!). I wonder how the same 'runners' act when they meet a fox or other predator?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

It depends on the perceived level of threat. You can be sure' if a predator attacks , the hedgehog will roll up. Like all animals some are more timid than others. I too have seen them scurry across the road. A hedgehog will not necessarily equate the approaching lights of a vehicle as a threat - until it is too late. In addition, there is no evidence that those hedgehogs killed on the road rolled up in a ball first.

kylith

Lyle Quiet Abdominal wrote: »

There is no evidence for this at all. Roadkill numbers are more or less constant nationally. The suggestion that they would not roll up as defence would also suggest that they are losing an instinct that serves them well against natural predators - this will just not happen from an evolutionary point of view.

Or would suggest that they are adapting to deal with unnatural predators.

I never said that they had stopped curling up when attacked by natural predators, just I'd heard that they'd learned not to do so with cars. Perhaps some 'hogs don't perceive the lights and sounds of a car as a threat, meaning that they keep moving rather than instinctively freezing. These 'hogs would then be more likely to pass their non-car-curling genes onto their offspring.

I can't find anything online other than mentions of it on some wildlife sites, so there may not be any research into it being done, other than speculation about why fewer are getting squished.

Amalgam

Hedgehogs are very nimble, they can run for short bursts, when needed!

We have a return of one or two to our garden this year and if they bump into you.. (eyesight not the best), they turn and trot away in a straight line.

Eating suet pellets put out for the birds, also fond of our water dispensers. (for birds and any other creature..)

eirator

Two spotted in our garden (actually a field used as a large garden) this week first time in a while but normally have at least one running around the place which we see when locking the chickens up at night. The chickens water bowels and grain attract slugs which the hedgepigs seem to like.

periodictable

Lyle Quiet Abdominal wrote: »

I'm sorry but that is just inaccurate anecdotal evidence. Hedgerows, damp areas, boundaries to forestry are all ideal Hedgehog territory. Just because you don't see this predominately nocturnal animal does not been they are scarce. I know I have had them in my garden for the past 28 years' as I have provided hibernating areas which are used' but I only seem them perhaps once every 3 years. And this is with me consciously looking for them.

If there's one thing I never discount, it's the observations of landowners.
Many may not have a whole lot of education, but I'll take their observations any day over those of an academic. As a small boy from the city, I learned about wildlife from my neighbors-where and when to watch hares "box", how to find a skylark's nest, where the lizards liked to sun themselves, where the grouse and harrier nested. Had hedgehogs been common in our area, I'm sure I'd have known about them.
Now, where I originally came from, which is almost at sea level, with fertile limestone land, in a town, hedgehogs were common. Even driving across the country, one sees them either crossing or dead. As for being nocturnal, badgers are too, and I see them every other night on the road.
I'm a pretty observant guy-I have 300 acres of land I grew up on and I know every inch. Never have I or my neighbors come across a hedgehog locally, either alive or as road kill, save that one time my neighbor remembers as a kid. So I guess they have begun to repopulate the area.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

kylith wrote: »

Or would suggest that they are adapting to deal with unnatural predators.

I never said that they had stopped curling up when attacked by natural predators, just I'd heard that they'd learned not to do so with cars. Perhaps some 'hogs don't perceive the lights and sounds of a car as a threat, meaning that they keep moving rather than instinctively freezing. These 'hogs would then be more likely to pass their non-car-curling genes onto their offspring.

I can't find anything online other than mentions of it on some wildlife sites, so there may not be any research into it being done, other than speculation about why fewer are getting squished.

I'm not arguing with you but nothing suggests that those hedgehogs killed on the road curl up. There is also no evidence that they perceive an approaching car light as a threat. There is no reason to make the assumption that hedgehogs perceive cars as cars and natural predators any different either. None, I'm sure ,think "oh this is a car I'll run across before it hits me because I know it's dangerous to curl up now" or "this is a Fox and not a car, I'll curl up"

The prevailing argument is that those killed on roads are not known to be the one's that curl up. In addition, studies and research is not all published on the internet and readily available through Google. There is, admittedly, not a huge amount of research into this aspect of hedgehog life but I can assure you our records have shown a constant rate of roadkill over at least the last 16 years.

elfy4eva

Was privileged to see a lovely Little Hedgehog about two years ago. It was on the pavement while I was walking home from work through my housing estate. (I was living in a sub-urban area of Dublin at the time). There is a park paralell to the estate where they must live. Facinating little fellas and adorably cute. He scampered off under a tall fence as I walked by.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

periodictable wrote: »

If there's one thing I never discount, it's the observations of landowners.
Many may not have a whole lot of education, but I'll take their observations any day over those of an academic. As a small boy from the city, I learned about wildlife from my neighbors-where and when to watch hares "box", how to find a skylark's nest, where the lizards liked to sun themselves, where the grouse and harrier nested. Had hedgehogs been common in our area, I'm sure I'd have known about them.
Now, where I originally came from, which is almost at sea level, with fertile limestone land, in a town, hedgehogs were common. Even driving across the country, one sees them either crossing or dead. As for being nocturnal, badgers are too, and I see them every other night on the road.

I'm a pretty observant guy-I have 300 acres of land I grew up on and I know every inch. Never have I or my neighbors come across a hedgehog locally, either alive or as road kill, save that one time my neighbor remembers as a kid. So I guess they have begun to repopulate the area.

Fine, believe hedgehogs don't frequent damp hedgerows at a mere 200m. But I'm compelled to advice people here that that territory is actually ideal hedgehog ground. Badgers are easy to see at night - I'll see them twice a week easily - as are boxing Hares etc. Outside a garden environment hedgehogs are very hard to find - even with trackers on them. I don't doubt you or your neighbours don't see them. I'm just trying to point out that that environment is not alien to them. My land is a mix of bog and grassland with some woodland and my neighbours admit to never seeing a live hedgehog; but they are certainly here.

norrie rugger

Was lucky enough to discover that I have one in my garden. What can I do to help the guy out, in relation to food etc?

Pie Man

Milk and bread are a no no, dog or cat food would be fine!

norrie rugger

I had heard that, thanks for confirming

OpenYourEyes

And if you're cutting any trees, raking any leaves, and cutting the grass - leaving it all in a pile at the end of the garden, or maybe putting grass and laves under any hedges etc, will make sure it has somewhere sheltered to spend the day and the winter too!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

norrie rugger wrote: »

Was lucky enough to discover that I have one in my garden. What can I do to help the guy out, in relation to food etc?

At this time of year there should be no need to provide food. As said, towards later summer leave a pile of shrub prunings etc. so it can have east access to a place for hibernation.

cuddlycavies

Common enough in Greystones. Would agree with other posters. Like the Echidna, some roll up on approach others don't. They get used to challenges and learn. Cats for instance, tire of hedgehogs and the hedgehog WIL fel safe around them.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Just a thought - do not use slug pellets if there is a hedgehog about. You won't need the pellets anyway, as the hedgehog will soon devour the slugs.

Amalgam

a low dish/flowerpot saucer filled with clean water, changed every day, if possible.

Left in the same area too, creatures of habit..

Our visitor loves a drink of water, with paws propped on the edge..

Merch

Any suggestions of what to put down for slugs that is natural and deters them? other than kidnapping a hedgehog!
I'm sure the places I am considering this don't have hedgehogs, but as a precaution I'd prefer not use slug pellets.

eirator

Hedgehogs won't help out much with slugs we have several hedgehogs and loads of slugs so it doesn't work out that simply.

Merch

eirator wrote: »

Hedgehogs won't help out much with slugs we have several hedgehogs and loads of slugs so it doesn't work out that simply.

This was another thing I was curious about generally,

Do Hedgehogs eat a particular specie/s of snail or slug.
I wasn't even sure they ate slugs, I thought it was just snails.

I know they have their place in the order of things but along with bluebottles, slugs almost make me retch, some I have seen are particularly vile looking, I thought some exuded a noxious substance to creatures that try eat them?

norrie rugger

On doing some research they only eat slugs when other food sources are scarce

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

norrie rugger wrote: »

On doing some research they only eat slugs when other food sources are scarce

Not strictly correct. Beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs and snails are the hedgehog's primary foods, but their diet is varied and they will also eat cereals.

Merch

in that case, this might be handy

http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Rid-of-Garden-Slugs


I must now look up what they eat naturally, I'd guess its along the lines of worms, grubs and maybe bird eggs (if they can get them?) out of curiosity.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

They will eat the eggs of ground nesting birds if they came across any. No big threat to the birds - except Spike Island in Scotland of course.

Merch

Lyle Quiet Abdominal wrote: »

They will eat the eggs of ground nesting birds if they came across any. No big threat to the birds - except Spike Island in Scotland of course.

I see you posted what I asked before I replied, didnt see it
and of course I did mean eggs of ground nesting birds
Ive yet to hear of hedgehogs climbing trees

Half-cocked

Merch wrote: »

Ive yet to hear of hedgehogs climbing trees

They are surprisingly good at climbing. Maybe not up trees, but certainly no problem getting over chicken wire fencing.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Half-cocked wrote: »

They are surprisingly good at climbing. Maybe not up trees, but certainly no problem getting over chicken wire fencing.

Or walls!. However it is recommended that you leave gaps in fencing between gardens if there are hedgehogs about.

eirator

Lyle Quiet Abdominal wrote: »

Or walls!. However it is recommended that you leave gaps in fencing between gardens if there are hedgehogs about.

Someone needs to tell the hedgehogs that, I've seen one climb a chicken wire fence when there was an obvious gap only feet away. If you watch them when feeding they seem to randomly root around with no real plan and consequently deal with each obstacle in isolation. Now when they are breeding it might be a different matter.

Merch

poor eyesight perhaps? seriously

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Merch wrote: »

poor eyesight perhaps? seriously

Eyesight is poor but smell and hearing are exceptional.