Trying to catch a hedgehog - update - I caught three!
I am going mad with both George and Finlay trying to catch a hedgehog which has found it's way into our garden. Not only have we had to contend with fireworks for the last week - I can hear some going off now - but when it has all gone quiet and I take the dogs out for their last pee they have found a hedgehog in the middle of the lawn eating the droppings of seed from the bird tables. Both dogs were attacking and barking - at 2am the first time. I managed to capture it in a long handled dustpan with a broom and put it into a fenced off part of our garden. Unfortunately every night out he comes and even putting leads on the dogs I have had a fight on my hands. They are both so strong and have nearly pulled me over a couple of times!!
I have decided I need to catch the hedgehog and take it somewhere out of our garden. This trap arrived this morning and I have set it and put meal worms in it to tempt the little devil. I am hoping that i can find a wildlife rescue centre who will take him - if I manage to catch him that is!! Watch this space!!
TWO HEDGEHOGS Caught! One in the trap and the other with a broom and long handled dustpan! I have put them out the front of our house in the bushes. I just hope they stay there. I don’t want the dogs to catch and kill them!
11 pm dogs went out in garden for last pee and there was ANOTHER HEDGEHOG - number three or one I had put out the front had made its way back but I don’t think so! Managed to get the dogs indoors with the help of the garden broom! Caught this one again with the broom and dustpan and put it at the front of the house - again. Why did I spend all that money on the trap when it was so easy with the dustpan and broom! Lol! I hope and pray that’s the last of the hedgehogs!
I have been unwell since arriving home from my fabulous holiday in Nova Scotia with Louise and Ken @weezilou. I thought it was jet lag but it soon turned out to be sinusitis and I have been flat out with a bad head and sore eyes. I haven't touched my camera or even looked at my holiday pics yet. Feeling much better today so hopefully I will be up and running again on 365 very soon!!
We don't have hedgehogs in this part of the world..so I was interested in whether they hibernated as the weather cooled at a certain temperature like snakes and lizards. Couldn't see anything on it...but I did see where juvenile hedgehogs could be desperate for food just before hibernation if they are not heavy enough to withstand the hibernation period.
We don't have hedgehogs, but do have possums so I can fully appreciate your problems. Maggie, in full voice no matter the hour, goes flying out/in her dog-door every time she hears a possum in the garden.
Good heavens what a time you have had. Good job George and Finlay don't live here, we have a family of possums that turn up in our garden every night to eat the fruit we put out for them.
Hope you feel much better soon.
It's wonderful to have hedgehogs in your garden but of course difficult because of the dogs! I would love to have one or three in mine but they are so rare these days. They must al be in yours! I'm glad you are beginning to feel better. Rest up and get yourself properly well before we meet up again.
@rosiekind if you want a hedgehog come and get one! Lol! I am sure the third one I caught was the first one who went round next door and came back. My nephew says he is a homing hedgehog! I am just hoping they don’t come back again tonight!
Wow, 3 hedgehog 🦔s, haven't seen a live one for several years. As for the fireworks, Daisy spent 5 nights under under the sofa, still an odd one or two going off!!
I wondered if you were poorly after your journey. Hope you feel back to normal soon, all the best to you. Smiling at your hedgie traps! I can imagine if it is driving the dogs nuts, it is better to remove it to another garden. You can send it here if you like, I love them and haven't had one for years! And no dogs here.
I hope you’re on the road to recovery! And good luck with the hedgehogs. When they arrive on Beaver Island and show up in someone’s garden, taking them a short distance doesn’t seem to help. They have to be moved to an entirely different area where they can’t find their way back. Hopefully where you are, they’ll end up finding someone else’s garden to hang out in, one without dogs!
WHAT A STORY!!! How ironic that wherever people live, they're unhappy with the "wild animals" that frequent their yards! Nova Scotians dislike the raccoons and you toss out the hedgehogs right and left while my daughter in the states would love nothing better than to have a Mrs Tiggywinkle! Remember how Beatrix Potter loved them all and made them famous! There's still time for you to do that, too with your photography ; )
@Weezilou I do love hedgehogs Louise as they are so good for the garden but I am afraid my two boys (terriers) want to kill them and I would hate to see this happen! I am a little concerned as Finlay and George were showing a lot of interest near the shed and the part of the garden which is fenced off. I suspect we might have another visiter. Is it the original pair who have found their way back I wonder!!
Hope you feel much better soon.