Wildlife UK Forum - Discuss the UK countryside and wildlife

It is normal for hedgehogs to have 2 litters, the second one being late summer/early autumn & this does cause problems with youngsters gaining enough fat reserves for the winter. This is not a new thing, it has always happened.
Because of the mild winters we now experience, hedgehogs do not hibernate as such, they go into a deeper sleep, but wake up & come out again as soon as we get a mild spell.
Peoples perceptions of hedgehogs going to sleep in November & not waking up again until April is totally wrong these days.

That's very interesting. I assume that this has implications on their ability to find food. Would it therefore be even more important for us to put out food and water during a mild spell in winter?

Yes, we do recommend putting food & water out during the winter months & also during very hot, dry spells in the summer. The mild spells in the winter also mean that earthworms etc are more active too so there is some food around but supplementing it means that they don't have to expend so much energy searching.

The local vets near to us informed us that they have had a hugh number of rescued hedgehogs being taken in to them over the past 3 or so weeks - many times more than they have experienced before.

We rescued one two weeks back that was hit by the car infront of us. It was around midnight and so we called a hegehog recue centre we found on the web for advice and as it was so late we looked after it over night following their advice and tips. There was quite a lot of blood on the top of the head and around the snout but it seemed quite sprightly if a bit snuffly the next day. We took it to the local vets that have links with people who take in rescued hedgehogs and it seems as though it had been clipped on the snout and it was possibly broken.

We were called the following day to let us know that they had put it down as it was having breathing difficulties and wasn't eating, which wasn't the happiest of endings.

Oh poor little thing

Well done for picking it up though and trying.

Reminds me of a duckling that was running down a busy A road, miles away from any water. God knows what all the people thought of me. I chucked my coat over it and waved the cars past.
I called the RSPCA but he died too soon

On a hedgehog note, I knew there were hedgehhogs in our garden since we lost a guinea pig and were looking for him in the middle of the night and my boyfriend was sticking his hand in the hedge thought that there was a prickly plant in there but no it was a hedgehog and I was delighted!!! We found Naughty the Guinea Pig under the shed the next morning (once known as Captain Tiger but called Naughty as he is always getting himself into trouble, climbing in the oven being the worst (no it was not turned on luckily)). Anyway B & Q is doinfg 75% off hedgehog food at the moment so I bought some for £1.24 and put some out in a bowl. For two nights running there have been at least two baby hedgehogs eating from the bowl (gave them peanuts and sunflower seeds too). They are about 10cm long. Is this normal for this time of year. they run really quick and really hope they don't run onto the road. Hopefully I have made my garden hefgehog friendly enough for them. I will be building a hedgehog home out of some old furniture I had for them before winter arrives. Lovely little thing One was actually sat in the food bowl.

Congratulations on the hedgehogs visiting, they sound about the perfect size for this time of year. Unfortunately many do run into the road, but I don't think there is a lot you can do to stop that. Do you have any pictures? I can never get enough of hedgehog pictures, especially babies

Their numbers are growing by the day - there were 3 yesterday and four today, all babies munching on the hedgehog food! Really cute. They are more attracted to the flower borders and hedges than the road. Must het down to B & Q to stock up on hedgehog food and make those hedgehog homes. At this rate there will be 365 of them next year! I have not got photos yet although they did not seem to mind it when I went and sat with them and gave them peanuts. Was really surprised at how fast they can run! Hopefully they will eat some slugs too!

Kingfisher is waiting for those hedgehog photos.

chascreek, that is sad about the poor little one you rescued, but I supposed better to rescue it and have it not suffer than otherwise.

Kingfisher

I ran out of my B & Q hedgehog food and now they have stopped selling it. I bought some from the pet shop but it was expensive and 'chicken' based which I would like to avoid really (you never know, the hedgehogs might get a taste for chicken and try and eat mine!!!)

I put out some sunflower seeds and peanuts and one was nibbling at them yesterday - does anyone else have any suggestions about what they like to eat and what is good for them?

How did the chicken based food go? Did they like it as much as the previous food?

Ive been feeding mine some chicken cat food and bird nuts chopped as i read somewhere that the large ones can get stuck in the throat..sunflower hearts and corn . also some chopped apple sometimes.
and fresh water.. I know earlier this month he had plenty of slugs on the menu as my garden seemed to full of them..The best thing is the dish is always empty..

Hi wildcat
Yes it is best to crush peanuts as whole ones can cause problems.
Any good quality, meaty cat food is fine & you could put some cat biscuits on top too as these help keep their teeth cleaner. Hedgehogs do tend to suffer with their teeth.

Thanks for the advice wildliferescuer. Just a quick question though, should the cat biscuits be crushed up as well? Or will that mean that they are not so good for teeth cleaning?

There is no need to crush them, they can be given as they are.