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When I do the rounds at night I always check that there is food in the trays and feeders ready for the early birds and have noticed that the ground tray is always empty next morning.
I assumed it was the birds but this evening at about 7.40 when it was still quite light, we discovered the culprit happilly snacking on the birdfood. We could actually hear it munching!
Looks like I will have to increase my seed order...
SB
There is something new to learn everyday...
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Oddly enough my resident hedgehog was out before dark last night as well.
They are partial to a bit of dog food if you want to give them a treat! ;o)
"IT IS SAID THAT LIFE FLASHES BEFORE YOUR EYES BEFORE YOU DIE. THAT IS TRUE, IT'S CALLED LIVING."Death - Terry Pratchett (The Last Continent).
In reply to doggie:
I am really hoping we get a little hedgehog family visit .. after all, they were "at it" on the lawn for quite a few nights. ;o)
I bought some hedgehog food from Wiggly Wigglers and Jacobi Jayne which they seem to enjoy.
They are creatures of habit, and if you keep feeding them, they will keep coming back to the same spot.
I love it when they get spooked, and seem to hitch their skirts up and peg it back into the hedgerow at a rate of knots! ;o) Makes me chuckle every time.
I got some decent shots on the camera trap the other night. I will put them up when I get a chance.
Ant
im really laughing here cos i also have a ground tray with alsorts of bits on and i do too have two nosie muchers my kids just adore them.
In reply to moorey00:
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for telling me that you have hedgehogs raiding the birdfood too!
We have several visiting the garden again this year. Last year we had a family of five and it's great to see that they are back again.
Last December I rescued one very small one which was lying in the snow by the feeder pole and I wondered at the time if it was scavaging for dropped seeds. The poor little mite wouldn't have survived the winter as it was so underweight. I took it in and gave it food and water and next day I took it to a local Wildlife Rescue Centre. They were inundated by young hedgies in a similar predicament. 'Mine' was quite unwell but thanks to the care by the volunteers at the Centre it slowly recovered and I am awaiting a call to go and collect it soon so that I can be release it in my garden.
Thanks for the tip about food for hedgehogs but I think OH might be a bit resisitant to that. He thinks we already spend too much on the birds as it is! I might sneak in some hedgehog supplies in late summer/early autumn to give them a a bit of help to put weight on for the winter months. Shhhh!
Hi SB,
That is a beautiful photo. He looks very contented, and I'm sure you'll find a way of smuggling some food in past your OH!!! What is the latest on your rescued one? Is he doing well?
I just wish I could encourage them to my garden, but alas Purdy the dog has a hedgehog hunt every night and likes to carry them back to the kitchen as a present for us. She doesn't harm them in any way, and carries them with a soft mouth, somehow not even injuring herself. She just dumps them on the flor, wagging her tail and looking for our approval!
Cheers, Linda.
See my photos on Flickr
In reply to Sparrow:
Hi Alan,
Mine was minimum weight too and I was told to take it indoors in the warm and give it cat food and water. It obviously felt beter during the night as it escaped the box I put it in and had a little trundle round the living room leaving little presents for me to clean up next day! We found it sitting in the hearth amongst the ashes of the previous evening's fire. It must been enjoying the residual warmth during the night.
Here it is in the garden:
Sparrow - Thank you, yes this one looks to be in good health. The rescued one did well to start with then lost his spines and when they grew back they were very pale. Apparently he is doing well now but they are holding on to him for a bit at the Centre to make sure he is 'good to go'. I'll post an update when I collect and release him.
doggie said: I got some decent shots on the camera trap the other night. I will put them up when I get a chance.
Hey i forgot you had that for your birthday..look forward to seeing some pics
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I shall stick some up on here when I get five minutes .. which is likely to be next week, as I am off up the almost in laws after Wednesday.
They live right on The Wash in Lincolnshire, I shall be spending a few hours at Frampton and Freiston I hope! ;o)
In reply to Ponty Cyclops:
We had hedgehogs out in the snow too, but they were lumps, so we put some dog food out which they scoffed down a few nights running, and then we never saw them again. Assuming they are the same ones, they were back in March.
Great photos everyone by the way. ;o)
I look forward to seeing them. Have a good trip.
In reply to Sarum Bat:
Nice photo of your Hedgehog,Mine has been around in the garden for a few weeks now,I too wondered where the food was going.I must take a photo one evening! :0)