A new wildlife resident

[Kath]

I have a new resident in my garden.  Well I don't think it was that new, I saw it a few months ago in my tiny garden.  It's a Hedgehog, an endangered species.

Today I spotted it carrying something in it's mouth, at first I thought it was nesting material, but I don't have litter in my garden that colour.  It was dark and white.  I looked it up and now realise that it was a baby hoglet.

I bought dog food today and put it out along side the water dish and by 6pm, it had eaten some.  I've put feelers out to get a home for her safe in my garden.  Let's hope it works.

[dvernb]

Lol. Good luck with your adoption efforts!!

I take it that having hedgehogs in your garden is a good thing?

 

[Kath]

On 6/21/2021 at 10:56 AM, dvernb said:

Lol. Good luck with your adoption efforts!!

I take it that having hedgehogs in your garden is a good thing?

 

A good thing?  Oh my yes, gardeners would kill to get a Hedgehog in their garden,  They eat so many pests it's amazing.  My slug population has disappeared.  In some countries it's considered a blessing if they make a home in your garden.  It's not really an adoption on my part, but she has chosen my secure garden to live, hibernate in the winter and raise her baby right now, so she has adopted me 😄

Now I have to find a way to make a proper safe home for her with food and water.  I want her to stay with me and be safe. 

I looked at the wildlife trust site and this is what they recommend.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home

I just need someone to build it for me 😄

[dvernb]

Very interesting! We don't have them where I am so I know very little about them except that they are cute little devils.

Good luck with your endeavor!

 

[Makara]

it's grey squirrels i don't like they are not indigenous to the British Isles they are a danger to the local red Squirrel population to the extent that they are now endangered in the British isles because they greys carry a disease deadly for the reds and the greys are bigger and more powerful so they attack the reds, also their is another unwelcome north American import the red signal crayfish they carry a disease deadly to the European crayfish that they are on the verge of extinction in the British isles, they are also causing problems with the populations of fish in our fresh waters as they snack on fish eggs ... on one of my local rivers Sea Trout are almost non existent when they were plentiful 10 years ago and they are also reeking havoc with river banks because they burrow deep into river banks causing them to collapse  ... Scottish waterways are nowhere near badly effected as England's  because Scottish rivers and lochs are colder than England's ... i would like to see a UK wide scheme to clear our waterways from this menace 

[Kath]

You can get permission to catch signal crayfish if you have a waterway nearby.  They are quite easy to catch, the more you catch the better for our UK environment, here's where to apply

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/permission-to-trap-crayfish-eels-elvers-salmon-and-sea-trout

 

Edited June 23, 2021 by koolrebel
external link coded

[Merlin]

Our native animal species are being decimated by invasive species from all just about everywhere I believe. Florida is overrun Burmese pythons and multiple species of Asian carp. There's so many invaders I can't list them all. The impact of this invasion is widespread and affects the balance of natural ecology here. If there is a solution it won't come soon enough for most native species.

[Kath]

Thank you Kool for correcting my external links, I don't know how to do that on here, can you instruct me?

[dvernb]

1 hour ago, Kath said:

Thank you Kool for correcting my external links, I don't know how to do that on here, can you instruct me?

You just click the </> symbol at the top of the window you're typing in. That will open a new window for you to type your link into. Nothin' to it!

 

[Makara]

5 hours ago, Merlin said:

Our native animal species are being decimated by invasive species from all just about everywhere I believe. Florida is overrun Burmese pythons and multiple species of Asian carp. There's so many invaders I can't list them all. The impact of this invasion is widespread and affects the balance of natural ecology here. If there is a solution it won't come soon enough for most native species.

yeah you have the snakeheads and the Asian Carp swamping your waterways decimating local populations of fish and the Asian/Japanese hornet as well as the Africanised bees

 

in Scotland we are introducing species that was once indigenous to Scotland , like the White tailed Sea Eagle to remote areas of Scotland any attempt to steal their eggs  = jail  farmers have been warned if they are found to have poisoned any eagle be it the Golden Eagle or the white tail eagle they will face the full force of the law ... their is also talk of re introducing beavers & the Eurasian Lynx and future plans to bring back grey wolves and Brown Bears back to Scottish Highlands as well in limited numbers

[Merlin]

That's great news about Scotland. Hopes should be high for a very positive outcome.

The snakehead fish are scary looking. That's not a scientific observation, obviously. These species are pervasive here. Maybe that's because they have no natural predators or competition for resources here.

[Makara]

apparently snakeheads are good to eat as are Asian Carp ... maybe it's time to put them on the menu big time in America and encourage fisheries and fishermen to catch them to reduce their numbers big time  ... i've seem some reports from America where Goldfish have taken over the entire lake because they have no predators so encourage restaurants like McDonalds, Wendys, and Burger king to sell them coated in bread crumbs with dips 

[Merlin]

6 hours ago, Makara said:

apparently snakeheads are good to eat as are Asian Carp ... maybe it's time to put them on the menu big time in America and encourage fisheries and fishermen to catch them to reduce their numbers big time  ... i've seem some reports from America where Goldfish have taken over the entire lake because they have no predators so encourage restaurants like McDonalds, Wendys, and Burger king to sell them coated in bread crumbs with dips 

Snakehead. The name would need an extreme image rebranding to ever fly in the USA starting now since it looks to be the dominant species eventually. They would have industrial size farms devoted to raising mass volumes for the fast food service. There’s no way the wild spaces would be saved , though. Too costly. Nature will take its course whatever that may be.

[Kath]

I had to give up on the help to build a hog house for my Hedgehog. So I had to order one from a local charity that will make one to suit my needs and my ability to look after it. I also have some good news, a few days ago I saw the mother carrying a small baby in it's mouth, then today I saw a much older one looking about 4-5" long that came to eat the food I had put out. That was such a surprise, I can only think that it was last years baby... but I'm thrilled, we have a family now.  My move to commission a hog house was good.  So I am putting out more food to accommodate the mother and the youngster as well.  My goodness, I hope it will be big enough for my family of hogs.

[Makara]

you have a good caring soul on you Kath 

[Kath]

They are going through the dog food now at an increasing rate, I'll have to buy another tin tomorrow, good job it's quite cheap.  I put out 2 lots today and by late afternoon, it was all gone.  I looks like I will have to increase the portion sizes that I freeze, to keep it fresh.  My goodness they are greedy.  But they have to put on weight to survive hibernation. Estimates are around 600gms to survive.

[Gregorius]

These are the photos of a hedgehog that lived until two years ago in my garden.
Only once did I get to see him in the daytime and photograph him. That time was also the moment my cat saw a hedgehog for the first time.
It was easier to see him in the evening when he came to eat my cat's kibble.
It would be more accurate to say that I sensed the hedgehog's arrival by the sound of the metal bowl, containing the kibble, which the hedgehog flipped over to feed more easily. More than once I have seen the hedgehog come poking around in my garage (See pictures below).
I'm sure a whole family of hedgehogs lived in my backyard, although I only ever saw one at a time.
One hedgehog had built his den among the ferns that had grown around the stump of a pine tree. Another hedgehog had made his den at the base of a pampas grass shrub.
I haven't seen the hedgehogs in two years now, I think they left because they were afraid of the new hunting dog my neighbor bought. This dog barked every night when he saw the hedgehog roaming around in my yard.

[Kath]

Fabulous photos Gregorious. Hedgehogs are so precious, we have to care for them because they ARE endangered.  There are no dogs here and just an occasional cat (George).  But I have ordered a hog house from a local charity.  It has a safety corridor, it prevents predators like cats getting anywhere near the nesting box, I really hope it works, I would love to keep my Hedgehog pals. I would hate them to leave me, but I can't force them to stay🙂

[Merlin]

Domesticated hedgehogs are smaller than natural habitat hedgehogs. I've never seen one as large as the one with your cat, Gregorius. And the markings of domestics are lighter color. But essentially the same only very cuddly and friendly.

Your house may not be big enough once the word gets out, Kath. Safety in numbers for them as for us. You may have to commission a larger refuge for them next year.

Keep us updated on the hedgehog story.

[Gregorius]

16 hours ago, Merlin said:

Domesticated hedgehogs are smaller than natural habitat hedgehogs. I've never seen one as large as the one with your cat, Gregorius. And the markings of domestics are lighter color. But essentially the same only very cuddly and friendly.

Your house may not be big enough once the word gets out, Kath. Safety in numbers for them as for us. You may have to commission a larger refuge for them next year.

Keep us updated on the hedgehog story.

In Switzerland and in neighboring Italy it has been forbidden for some years to raise a European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)  at home and treat it as a pet, because, like foxes or deer, hedgehogs are considered wild animals. The law, however, allows you to keep a hedgehog in your garden only if the animal has decided to come and live in your yard.
The hedgehog I photographed is not a domestic hedgehog but a hedgehog that lives in the wild in my backyard. It is a European hedgehog specimen that can reach 25/30 cm (9,8/11.8 in.) in length and up to 1 kilo (2.2 lb) in weight.

Hedgehogs that can be adopted are African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris, A. pruneri, A. faradjius - See pics below). These are now bred and widespread throughout Europe.

The main differences between European and African hedgehogs are in size. The latter are in fact much smaller than the former and are sometimes referred to as pygmy hedgehogs. They weigh a maximum of 400g (14 oz) and are 16 cm (6.3 in)long. African hedgehogs also do not hibernate, which is ideal for a pet.

It seems to me, but I am not sure of this, that hedgehogs live only in Europe, Africa and Asia, while the hedgehogs in America were introduced by man as pets and are those of the African species.

[Merlin]

3 hours ago, Gregorius said:

In Switzerland and in neighboring Italy it has been forbidden for some years to raise a European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)  at home and treat it as a pet, because, like foxes or deer, hedgehogs are considered wild animals. The law, however, allows you to keep a hedgehog in your garden only if the animal has decided to come and live in your yard.
The hedgehog I photographed is not a domestic hedgehog but a hedgehog that lives in the wild in my backyard. It is a European hedgehog specimen that can reach 25/30 cm (9,8/11.8 in.) in length and up to 1 kilo (2.2 lb) in weight.

Hedgehogs that can be adopted are African hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris, A. pruneri, A. faradjius - See pics below). These are now bred and widespread throughout Europe.

The main differences between European and African hedgehogs are in size. The latter are in fact much smaller than the former and are sometimes referred to as pygmy hedgehogs. They weigh a maximum of 400g (14 oz) and are 16 cm (6.3 in)long. African hedgehogs also do not hibernate, which is ideal for a pet.

It seems to me, but I am not sure of this, that hedgehogs live only in Europe, Africa and Asia, while the hedgehogs in America were introduced by man as pets and are those of the African species.

Exactly so. That is the kind of hedgehog I’ve seen here and only as a pet.

Thanks Gregorius!

[Kath]

They are adorable, I did consider getting a pet one, but rejected it eventually.

I'm happy to have a European wild one in my little garden.  I continue to feed it dog food which disappears every day.  I've not seen the large mother one in the last few days, but I have seen to juvenile one a few times in the day.  I put out extra food yesterday as I thought the juvenile may have been eating all the food in the daytime, but that disappeared too by morning, so I am hopeful they are both OK.  Fingers crossed 🙂

[Merlin]

She may have a new litter she's tending to? I'm sure she's fine. You must ascribe a name for her so we use it. And the junior one, too 😉

The last photo in Gregorius' of the little fellow on a log with brightly colored leaves is adorable. They are the most adorable pets. But I'm still a dog man. Always will be.

[Kath]

Well obviously the large one is a female, so how about Hettie for her, the juvenile, I have no idea, so I guess we call him/her Jude, it works for both male & female.  I'm hoping you're right Merlin, going back to my earlier observation of her carrying something across the garden, I think you might be right.  I certainly didn't see the juvenile for a number of weeks after she arrived.  I'm hoping she made a nest under the shed, it's the safest place until I get my hoghouse.

[Merlin]

Hettie is great!

So Hettie's nest is under the shed? How will you get her to move to the new above ground cottage?