Garden Wildlife UK

Friday night is hedgehog night at my place
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.

An every day story of Hog caring folk.

A good job well done joomoo and hubby. That many tics can be a burden to hedgehogs, it could have gotten quite weak. They get into the most unlikely places don't they, good that you and husband got the hedgehog out. A good night work.

Garden cam got this last night. Not very often two show up together. With it being September now it could well pick up a bit as they will want to put on weight.



Got outside front door this morning to bring in the nightcams and I seen a hedgehog on the small plot make a quick dash under the yew. Went and had a look, a bit smaller than medium so could be one of last years brood. As it was getting light I popped it in the feeder I have under the yew. Came back from doggy walk and thought I would have a look to see if it was still in the feeder. Could not see inside for all the nesting material inside. So now I know what it was doing out still. Best part about it is that small plot cam never picked it up carrying nesting material. and its only 8 feet away from the yew.

Jealous of seeing two !!! "Brush by" from a local guest

Garden cam caught this last night. To me looks like two juveniles.



Not seen the little un over the way for a couple of weeks now. Am still putting down food and it is gone in the morning. Could be the local cats, but hope not.

I just spoke with my hog lady and she told me that Laytie died within 24 hours of her having him. He was riddled with fluke and probably had been for a while.
Ken is still running around in my garden and I'm going to grab Fatty tonight to weigh him as I'm curious as to how heavy he is.

JooMoo wrote:I just spoke with my hog lady and she told me that Laytie died within 24 hours of her having him. He was riddled with fluke and probably had been for a while.
Ken is still running around in my garden and I'm going to grab Fatty tonight to weigh him as I'm curious as to how heavy he is.

Run Fatty .....Run

I didn't see him last night, but I weighed 2, one was just 400g (not sure if it was Ken or another titch) and the middling one was 1kg.

Bad luck about Laytie, Joomoo . Sounds like maybe the best thing though ........