Hedgehogs.....homeless? Any H H Experts Out There?

[ToraToraTora]

Once again one of my Jacks has brought a hedgehog in and plonked it in the lounge. They are unharmed and just sit in a ball in the middle of the lounge, Now we don't want to put him straight back into the garden because the afore mentioned terrier will probably do an encore. So err indoors and I have to walk about 100 yards to a copse at the end of the road and put the little fella there. Ok with me so far? Anyway I wondered whether he will try and get back to his nest? will he be able to find it? Or have we unwittingly created a vagrant Hedgehog and a family waiting for him to come home? I have googled but not much info. Thanks.

[eve1974]

Oh I now need to know the answer.... thinking of homeless hedgehog ... n his family putting up “missing since Nov 2020” posters!

[Mamyalynne]

It's most often recommended to release creatures back close to where they were found but I see your dilemma - he/she should survive in the copse I imagine and they are pretty good navigators.

[shoota]

Check your Jack for ticks and fleas Tora, hogs are often riddled.

[237SJ]

I doubt there is a hedgehog family waiting for him to get home. He must be one of this year's young.

[ToraToraTora]

it's ok shoota we put so much gunk in them or on them they are like a walking dog pharmacy!

[237SJ]

I would just put him somewhere safe (away from your dogs)

[ToraToraTora]

237, he was a pretty big one I'd say 6+ inch diamter.

[ToraToraTora]

237, yes that's why we walked down to the copse!

[woofgang]

Hedgehogs are territorial and should be put back where they came from. I have got one area of the garden fenced off for my tortoises and I put hedgies in there. The dog can't get in and the hedgie can get out when it wants to. maybe you could fence of a small area and do the same?

[237SJ]

As long as you take it somewhere safe, it should be OK. When I was a kid I climbed down into my friend's garden and nicked the hedgehog that was living there because I was convinced it was the same hedgehog that was living in my garden so it was mine as far as I was concerned. I took it the 200 mtrs back to my house and it lived quite happily. They can live anywhere.

[Buenchico]

See here:
https://tinyurl.com/yyapemsk

[ToraToraTora]

woofgang, yes I have a bit fenced off naturally (not dor the HH) but a) I don't know if he actually lives in my garden or was passing through and b) I can't make them stay in any area.

[Ellipsis]

Great resource, Chris ...

[woofgang]

I know...same issue here. The advice though is not to move them around but to let them go where they want to. The enclosure is not to fence the hedgehog in but to fence the dog out. Once the dog has gone to bed for the night the hedgehog can wander off safely....read Buenchico's link.

[ToraToraTora]

ok thanks all

[ladybirder]

TTT seriously, take it to your local/nearest Wildlife Rescue, they will see it right. Or at least ring them for advice as soon as you can.
They will treat it for shock first thing. Please do that. Put it in a box with a blanket and some water for this evening.

[sherrardk]

I wouldn’t plonk him just anywhere, he needs to be living in the nest he’s made as he’ll be hibernating soon. He also needs to be more than 600 grams to survive.

[ladybirder]

Sorry, see I'm too late.
They travel about 2-3 kilometres a night on their rounds so you might see it again but it's hibernation time so hopefully it will do just that.