Hedgehog and hibernation

[chris9999]

Hedgehog and hibernation (November-March)

We have a Hedgehog that has decided to hibernate under our front window, this a dangerous and very exposed area to do so. It has been there 2 days, last night following Tigglywinks & RSPCA website advice it was still there so we picked it up, as Hedghogs should not be out in daytime or outside without cover away from its nest. Its now in box in the Garage, its about the size of a pineapple BIG, heavy and in the light of the garage appeared unmarked and has a full coat of spines.

It was moved as I was worried about predators.

So what was it doing? Hibernating (it hadn't moved in 2 days).

Any advice?
should we take this Hedgehog to the vets?

Chris

[Carakeel]

I think it might be a good idea to have him checked over and then buy him a hedgehog house, which you can get from most garden centres and put it in a safe area of your garden. Hedgehogs are such lovely creatures and you are lucky to have one in your garden. I would do everything you can to make a safe home for him. The vet will be able to tell you if he is alright or not and then you can decide whether to release him into the wild or make a home for him with you. Good luck!

[felinechums]

Chris, you are so lucky!! I have been hoping for hedgehogs for years - I know they live in my area as I occasionally see them squashed on the road, but although we have loads of slugs and snails in the garden, enought to feed an army of hedgehogs, and a pond with frogs, I have never seen a hedgehog. We leave small areas of our garden overgrown, and leave piles of leaves, but so far, nothing. I do envy you. I hope the little guy is ok.

[t.asha]

Hi ,this just made me think of something that happened to me - last Xmas, just as the first snow was falling in our area, we went outside and there toddling down the garden path was a very sad bedraggled looking Hedgie !! Not wot we were expecting to say the least. They were having some work done next door and that day they had had some bags of garden rubbish removed, it had been there for ages and I think that the hedgie must have been hibernating behind them. We put it in a box in our spare room ( no heating on ) with a big saucer of cat food, and went off to decide what to do. I thought that we were gonna have to look after him for the rest of the winter. The hedgie promptly escaped from the box, then the bedroom, and moved himself into our toilet, where, he installed himself behind the main pipe quite happily - coming out once a day for his saucer of catfood and to use the newspaper we had put down for him. After a couple of weeks of this we were sitting downstairs when we heard loads of banging and bumping coming from the front door area. On investigation we found Mr Hedgie trying to batter his way out of the door, we opened the door and off he trundled, without so much as a backwards glance !!! The weather was much milder again by then and there were plenty of worms and slugs around for him to eat so we just let him get on his way!! I'm sorry for stealing your thread and I know this probably wonj't help you much, but I just thought you might find it amusing. XXX

[divegirl]

Hi, what an excellent story t.asha! Chris9999 please follow the above advice, they are beautiful harmless creatures and you are lucky to be so close to one....hope he doesn't cost you too much though....lol

Good luck

Lisa x

[allotment10]

http://www.hedgehog-care.co.uk/

hope this helps :-)

[chris9999]

Hi Chris here,

An update and a thank you too all you keen Hedgehog fans.

Spoken to the vet and its just Hibernating, and it is fine,
its a very sound sleeper too.

It must be the unusually warm Autumn and Winter we are having in England that made it hibernate without cover.
The Hedgehog must have followed its basic instinct to hibernate in mid November and because the temp was around 4C for the last 2 nights up here it probably thought it didn't need any cover.

Its a hefty, heavy and large Hedgehog.
Will keep on looking in on the Hedgehog and perhaps leave some water out just in case it wakes up and wants to move on.
Anyhow its safe and sound and asleep/ hibernating in comfort of my garage.

I like the idea of building a Hedgehog house for it too use in the back garden.
I will either buy one or make one this weekend.

thanks,

Chris

P.S. can you post pictures on here.

[CT]

You can't post pics directly but use tinypic or imageshack or something, then post a link to the page as an answer here.

[Carakeel]

Oh please Chris, do post a link to some photos of your new little friend! We'd all love to see him. Have fun building the hedgehog house. You won't regret it! Big hug and best wishes :o)

[WendyS]

My only concern about putting your hedgehog in your garage is that if he can't come and go as he pleases if the weather suddenly gets milder, and you don't check on him every single day, he may starve to death if he wakes. Do you have anywhere outside where you can build him a really cosy waterproof little house with lots of straw or dry leaves? Some old logs covered with heavy polythere would do. It doesn't have to be fancy, just dry and with some bedding and preferably in a sheltered corner away from the wind. Meanwhile, keep a couple of tins of meat based catfood handy so that if he does wake up, you have something nourishing to feed him with.
Lucky you!. Hope he survives to Spring and keeps your garden slug free. And if you handle him, remember they are absolutely full of fleas !!