This little fella has been causing us some trouble. For about two weeks Monty has been digging himself into the ivy behind a garden bench and barking incessantly every time we let him out. It makes a change from him barking at the hens or a long gone squirrel but it's really annoying. I've suspected a hedgehog in there (or possibly something less desirable) but couldn't see one. Nigel finally spotted a few spines this afternoon and built even more impenetrable barricades around the bench to stop Monty getting too close while still allowing our spiky friend to get out. This evening Monty shot over there, dug around at the barricade but didn't bark - 'Hurrah!" I thought, 'Success'. But no, two seconds later Monty was hopping from foot to foot woofing away at Mr Hedgehog in a totally different and more exposed part of the garden. So I dragged him back inside and I took some cat food out, found Hedgy in the day lilies, left the food and went to put the hens to bed. I could hear him crunching away as I walked back down the garden - so now we know that hedgehogs definitely prefer crunchy cat food to pouches!!
Oh! how sweet. It could be in the same place as my rabbit! Glad Monty didn't try to pick it up like our dog did when I was a teenager. I spent some time with tweezers removing spikes from his gums!
Oh brilliant! It's always lovely to find one. I love all the effort you've gone to, down to a special bowl! All I can find is the evidence of hedgehog! lol
I haven't seen a hedgehog for years now, there just doesn't seem to be as many around, saying that we found hedgehog poo in the garden last week! What an exciting find, fav for sure!
Great capture, love his little boot button eyes! One of my whippets really hated hedgehogs and had a special 'hedgehog' bark, many times I had to chase him in from the garden late at night.
What an adorable little creature! As soon as I get home tonight I will check "Beatrix Potter's Art", a book I have of her lovely illustrations. I know there is a hedgehog or two in there, before one of them became Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle. We don't have real-life ones here.
Such a nice story.
It was on radio 4recentlu how hedgehog numbers have plummeted. Made us realise we hadn't seen one for yesrs.
So its a pleasure to share yours.
It's always great to find a 3-dimensional hedgehog. One came walking along the path towards me a few nights ago, when I was out at night looking for a flash illuminated shot. So of course I trained the camera on M. Hérisson ...but the camera refused to focus - repeatedly, so he remains anonymous.
Love it! Gorgeous little button eyes seem to be following you. Monty sounds like Mopsy and the rabbits. She's always dashing around the garden alerting us to where the little pests have been.
I have never seen a hedgehog in the wild! Love this capture! Our dogs delight in terrorizing chipmunks, birds, squirrels, rabbits, frogs, anything that moves... hope Monty doesn't capture Tucker (I see you've named him!)
What a great shot of him peeping out through the leaves. The last one I saw was in the middle of the road outside our house - alive - thanks to the 2 men in a van who parked it across the road to stop anyone driving over it, they got out and moved it into a neighbours garden - then the bigger burly man got out the anti-septic hand gel!! Sensible I know but it did make me laugh!
You did so well to catch him uncurled with his nose in the bowl....hope you weren't there all night! He looks quite at home in spite of being barked at by Monty!
Nice capture Judith. I see quite a few hedgehogs out on my last walk of the day with Kayna and I have a terrible confession. One night, even though she was on a lead, Kayna managed to get hold of one (I didn't see it as it was very dark) and killed it. Not sure how she managed it without hurting herself but I've been very vigilant ever since.
A person after my own heart, Judith! A couple of years ago, I had been leaving dry cat food out on my deck at night to feed a stray cat in the neighborhood. Eventually, I found out I'd been feeding a possum. I continued to feed it, as it was hungry and it was winter. There have been 3 stray cats in the neighborhood again - all part of the same family. We've been able to capture one and my neighbor brought her to the vets for her shots and to get it fixed. No, she's happily living with my neighbor and has become a wonderful pet. I've been worried about the other two cats, so I've been leaving food out of them. Every morning, the bowl is empty. Last night, I looked out the window and saw that a very happy skunk was eating the food. I guess I'll continue to leave food out for my new "friend" - but will be very quiet around it!
@sparkleplenty1 Well I'm very grateful to the lady who fed my cat when she got lost - definitely saved her life as her microchip had failed and they couldn't identify her as mine. I'm not sure exactly who I'm feeding each night (definitely not a skunk!) - the food keeps disappearing! I'm hoping that Mr Hedgy is OK - he's VERY still - I'll check him out later as they are nocturnal.
@sparkle He seems to have died :0( I can't have killed him with the cat food can I? I'll leave him a bit longer in case it's rain induced hibernation but it doesn't seem likely.
@judithg cat food should be OK...I know normal milk can kill them cos they can't tolerate lactose (which is why lactofree is good for them - as the Arla ad says!!). I lost 2 in my garden, a biggun and a baby - they both drowned in the pond - I felt terrible for days after and have subsequently built big rock ladders for anything else that decides to go for a swim!! He may just have gone wandering and the weather has been a bit odd - hot then cold so fingers crossed he's stocked up to set himself up for a big adventurous walk!!
@judithg aw...now there's a dilemma! Just read a factsheet on hedgehogs...cat food fine, bread isn't though...maybe he's tired!! here's hoping. evidently there's a high mortality rate with young...so if he has gone to hedgehog heaven it's unlikely anything you've done!
It was on radio 4recentlu how hedgehog numbers have plummeted. Made us realise we hadn't seen one for yesrs.
So its a pleasure to share yours.
Glad you got your shot :)