Hedgehogs emerge from hibernation

Well, it has been mild, so it is perhaps not surprising that the Pontrobert Hedgehogs are once again frequenting our feeder. It's great to see them again!

Don't forget to report your Hedgehog sightings to me, dead or alive!

Hog attack

It's Hedgehogs again, but how could I not post this amazing footage of a vicious attack which took place over my feeder, in the early hours of this morning!

I can confirm that both walked away seemingly unhurt!

Merlin & the Hedgehog

I know it is another post about Hedgehogs, but when you can get such great views of them right by your back door, it is hard not to be entranced! This time I would like to share a moment from last night when my old dog, Merlin, showed how dogs and Hedgehogs can mix!

It's a good job my other dog, Cerrig, was out with me (Glow-worm hunting!), as he is not so tolerant. After two years, he is still frightened of them and would have been shrieking his head off, had he been there!

Sickly hog?

"You didn't tell me that Cerrig was still outside!"

This is what Kevin said when I returned from a mouse deportation to find him outside with a Hedgehog. Thankfully, Cerrig (one of our dogs) has never harmed our Hedgehogs, he just shrieks his head off, making everyone jump!

At nearly 8pm, it was still far from dark, so this little one was out rather early. This is not unheard of by any means, but typically when a hog is out during the day, something isn't quite right. I can't say it was the most spritely Hedgehog I have ever seen; the poor thing looked poorly to me. Hope it is soon on the mend.

Dance of the Draenog

Privileged to witness and film Hedgehog courtship in my own back garden tonight! Unfortunately my camera does not have sound, so you will have to imagine the huffing, which was emitted constantly by the lighter-coloured, smaller female. I have to admit to feeling a little bit sorry for the male, who received several firm rebuffs, but still persevered! I hope his persistence pays off!

This behaviour can last for hours and doesn't necessarily end in mating. Often one or the other runs off, or the loud noise attracts other suitors, causing a sparring match between the males. Since there is no evidence that Hedgehogs form any kind of pair bond and promiscuity appears to be the rule, this tedious courtship seems a complete waste of everyone's time! But, I guess the female has a right to be choosy given the bodily contortions she has to undertake to actually mate!

Hedgehogs a-plenty

Yesterday's first Hedgehog of the year has picked up some friends! Last night the feeder received lengthy visits on four separate occasions, at 10:15pm, 1am, 2:20am and 4am! At 10:39pm, the first beat a hasty retreat as the second took it's place at the table:

This little fella had an itch!

First Hedgehog of 2013

I was beginning to wonder whether I would ever see a Hedgehog this Spring, but finally they have put me out of my misery! Last night, at about 10:15pm, a Hedgehog visited our feeder for the first time since November, as recorded on our trailcam:

So nice to see them again! May it be the first of many!

Incidentally, I feed my Hedgehogs Vine House Farm Hedgehog Food; it generally doesn't attract cats and the hedgies love it!

Hedgehog, Pontrobert

This little guy caught my eye this morning as he was still out at 7:30am and didn't curl up on my approach!

The nights are so short now and with still so little rain, natural food is not very abundant, that our nocturnal Hedgehogs are struggling to find enough food.

You can help your Hedgehogs at this tough time in a number of ways, but a quick fix would be to provide some food for them. Vine House Farm do an excellent Hedgehog Food which my Hedgehogs love and it also doesn't attract the local moggies.

For more ideas on how to help Hedgehogs, or to find out how you can become a local Hedgehog Champion, check out Hedgehog Street. If you want to help trial a new survey method for these wonderful creatures, then the Mammal Society would love to hear from you!

Hogs don't disappoint

'Noisy' enjoying his food

Just spent a fabulous hour and a half having close encounters of the prickly kind! My back garden truely is the best place to watch Hedgehogs.

Lying only three feet away from the ground feeder, I enjoyed priviledged views of no fewer than five Hedgehogs as they made their way over (more or less) one by one. Each one continued to enjoy the feast whilst I snapped away with my camera and their little personalities shone through.

The first was what Cesar Millan would call 'calm, submissive', walking purposely over to the feeder to calmly enjoy its contents. Suddenly a very bold individual appeared and 'Calm' made a sharp exit! 'Bold' happily ate its fill for three minutes before heading into the night. Barely five minutes later and I was joined by a more cautious hog who initially paused, before heading fully into the light to enjoy the food reward.

'Cautious' exercises discretion when 'Noisy' shows up

It was only three minutes before 'Noisy' appeared (so called because most of the time I spent with him he was grunting away to himself!) and 'Cautious' immediately gave way to him. 'Noisy' clearly had other things on his mind and he quickly chased after 'Cautious'! Courtship ensued only 10 feet away, but it seems that she was unimpressed and soon gave him the slip, at which point his stomach got the better of him and he returned to the feeder! When he had had enough he walked straight over to me, sniffed my hand and then wandered off, perhaps to try his luck with 'Cautious' again!

Nine minutes now went by before a very nervous hog appeared. This poor thing took quite a while to pluck up the courage to fully come into the light and then flinched every time my camera shutter fired. Sadly, my assumption that it would get used to the sound was flawed and after only a minute on the feeder, it slunk away.

At this point, I decided to call it a night and after a moment enjoying the view of Saturn in the clear sky, I headed inside to review my images!

Neighbourhood watch for Hedgehogs!

From the PTES - "Hedgehogs are instantly recognisable and much loved creatures. All the more distressing then that a new report (The State of Britain’s’ Hedgehogs) provides definitive evidence that their numbers have declined by at least a quarter in the last 10 years – confirming their status as a conservation priority species. This alarming figure has compelled wildlife charities: the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to join forces to launch Hedgehog Street. This initiative aims to empower whole communities, encouraged by volunteer Hedgehog Champions, to take small steps to improve their neighbourhood for hedgehogs in a bid to create a giant patchwork of hedgehog-friendly areas across the British Isles."

So if you want to help Hedgehogs, click here to find out more.

Fantastic day of mammals!

Well, what a mammaly day! After seeing the hare reported in the previous post, I heard the high-pitched squeeking emitted by shrews, part of their territorial battles over that particular section of hedgerow. Just before arriving home, I peered over the parapit of the bridge to view the river, as I do every day. With my binoculars I could clearly see a fresh otter spraint prominently displayed on top of a rock, in the middle of the river. This is not the first time I have seen spraint here, but it's good to know they are still around and I live in hope that one day I will be lucky enough to spot the real thing!

The day's mammal sightings reached their peak this evening. Whilst out admiring the wonderful starlit sky in my back garden, a parade of no fewer than four Hedgehogs took their turn at the feeder! These gorgeous little spiny friends can be very confiding indeed when there is a regular supply of Vine House Farm Hedgehog Food to enjoy!