Your Garden Hedgehogs

[squirrel]

I have just been out to dutifully put out my hedgehog and fox food which I do every night just in case. I have been noticing that every so often the hedgie food gets eaten, but I do see birds around the front garden ground feeder table and I guess the fox might sometimes eat it as I smell it around the front door every now and again. Imagine my surprise this evening, when I go out in the dark without my torch to put some commercial hedgie food on the tray for my hand to be prickled by a hedgie!!!!!!! - Yes a real hedgie having something to eat on 2/1/15!!!! The unseasonably mild weather of yesterday must have woken it up and it has come out for a snack. I came back out with more fresh water and my torch and some more dried mealworms and had a good look at it. It was in good condition - a medium to large one. It obviously knew the garden well and knew where it could get food whenever it needed it. I could have got a picture, but I thought it was much more important to ensure it got a good meal without being scared off, as I had already given it a good patting. It does make me ensure that I remain conscientious on my hedgie food supplying after finding this one in January. I know they often get up for snacks, but I did think today was rather cold, so it can be any time!!

Message to everyone!! ---- Keep vigilant!!!

[Placido]

Amazing , Squirrel, but not really surprising if one thinks about it.
I expect it enjoyed its little excursion and top-up. Good to know it's close by

[JooMoo]

I've been away for a week before Christmas and now away for 4 nights. I've put some coconut shells full of seeds in my feeding station for just in case.
It had all gone for the first week and I don't know about this week.
Apart from one or two nights, it hasn't been too cold in Wales.

[nuthatch]

What a surprise for you, Squirrel - good to see it having some food

[Jacksparrow]

Thursday was a quite mild day for the time of year. Squirrel's Hedgie wouldn't be the first animal fooled by the weather into thinking spring had arrived early.

[squirrel]

Hedgie was back this evening having something to eat again! We had a sharp frost last night. I thought it would have gone back to bed again, but no!! I went to put the food out about the same time ( about 21.00 hrs) and there it was munching away. I had a feast waiting for it - commercial hedgie food, peanuts and mealworms, and some more fresh water, so it will not go hungry. Another thing - I am not entirely sure it was the same one as 2 nights ago!! - it looked slightly smaller - I may be mistaken though!! Anyway I am happy it seems to have found it's way to my food tray. I guess Joomoo's hedgie's have been coming often too, like mine. I just kept thinking other things were eating the food when it vanished intermittently throughout the winter so far!!

[Willpar]

Good on you Squirrel for looking out for the hedgehog. If they are about will need feeding up. Nothing here yet. I have started putting out doorcam each night before I go to bed. And make sure at least two feeders have food in them. No takers yet though.

[Placido]

I think that's remarkable, Squirrel, that it/they are around in frosty weather. A "warm" night I can understand but below zero temp. is a different matter.
A good feed now could mean the difference between survival and not.

[JooMoo]

I've not been at home recently, but put some mealies and sunflower seeds in coconut shells in my feeding station.
There's definitely been on and off activity in there, but the camera hasn't picked anything up.

[squirrel]

Drew into the driveway this evening, after having scraped all the frozen water off my windscreen at work on the lateshift, to see the hedgie illuminated in my headlights on the driveway!!!! It went into the back garden as there was nothing left on the ground feeder table in the front garden. There was before I went to work, but it had all gone this evening by the time I got in at 21.50 hrs. The peanuts in the coconut shell in the backgarden had been munched hedgie style, so it had been there all ready, when I got out the back door with the food.

It doesn't seem to be showing signs of going to bed yet!!!! Food has been going all January so far from the front garden feeder, so I guess it hasn't gone back to bed, and we had a bit of snow today!!! I am really surprised.