We were just about going to bed last night, when I had my last look outside. I saw what I thought was Ken but something wasn't quite right. On closer look, he had lots of ticks, especially round his head. I called hubby back, then ran out to get gloves and the hog, who'd run off by then.
I don't know about the hog, but I find tick removal very distressing. I have to sit down half way through, else I'd faint. I'd hold the hog, whilst hubby attacks the ticks with a tick remover. We couldn't get in to some, but did our best. I think we removed 25-30.
It was definitely Ken as there was the hint of tippex. He'd lost about 50g in the week, but hopefully it was more to do with the exercise, rather than blood loss from the ticks.
I put him back out and had a little prowl of the garden. I could hear a puffing/scraping sound, so went to investigate.
My garden is raised from the adjacent road about 2 foot, with a 6 inch gap between the retaining boards and the fence. I could see a hog's nose sticking up and from what I gather, fatty hog had fallen down there and was trying to get back out. But he appeared to be a bit stuck.
I ran back in to get hubby for some assistance. He tried pulling him out but fatty was hanging on. He tried pushing him back down, but fatty was gripping on for grim death. He managed to dislodge him, but couldn't get him out as the gap was too narrow. We had a towel, and eventually managed to get him out. Phew. He was a chunky hog indeed.
Today I got FIL to make some ramps in case a hog ever gets down there again. There's ever been a dead one down there, but I assume that smaller ones would manage to get out by squeezing past some of the posts.
. Sounds like maybe the best thing though ........