Hog Log 2019-2021
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/8/0/138049961/published/tashedge.jpg?1624019308)
Hi, My name is Tas and I’m going to start to explain how it all began. After that I will just update on certain stories or funny Hedgehog adventures.
Going back in my mind, across time and space – I remember seeing hedgehogs at about the age of 7. I was lucky enough to live on a farm in Catsfield, (UK) and a canny Yorkshire man, taught me many old rural customs and folk law. He was a type of Godfather to me, and his love of shire horses and the countryside taught me many things, that I can’t quiet remember why I know that now- He could forecast the weather and even make a horse pee by whistling to it! He taught me how to uncurl a hedgehog, and how to talk to them. He showed me the humour that the corvid/crow family has in spades, they way to tell bats apart from their flying pattern – how to plait a native horses mane, and even some herbs to use in the countryside, when you had nothing else. Oh how I wish Id written it all down – but we don’t do we?
Fast forward, years later, in 2009, my husband and I were on a weekend break when we spotted one at dusk on a evening walk around the grounds. This was when I realised, I had not actually seen a hedgehog for many years. But then I was not out looking for them, either. We were still busy working with people and animals and it wasn’t until we sold, downsizing and moved to a semi rural area, near Herstmonceux that we actually saw one again.
Our dear dog, Pagan, now sadly passed alerted us to one at night in the back garden. We thought “how lovely” – and that was it. Pagan then found the gap in the fence where they travelled through at night. Thinking, back now wondering if he was trying to tell me something! After his death, life changed in many ways including within a year the start of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. This proved to be an amazing opportunity, for us. It was a chance to take a huge step back and really look at things and life. Like many others, we started work in the garden, and eventually decided to build a Hedgehog house. Although, I did ask my husband to make three as apparently somewhere I had read that they had to be in threes! Totally untrue, but I was reading so much about them, I had little understanding as to what was true and what was just someone’s belief.
We cleared away a brick pile in the corner of the quietest garden and I decided that this was where the hedgehog village could be! I found an easy way to make a hedgehog feed station, using an under bed storage box and hey presto – we were away! Something ate there the first night!! This was on Wednesday 6th May 2020, I laid water down in one area and then sprinkled dry dust over it – just as that Yorkshire man had showed me many years ago and following day, I was delighted to see Hedgehog footprints! Not one to rest on my laurels, within a week the first CCTV unit was installed, and as if by magic, we had actual footage of these little darlin’s going in and out of the feeding station. By the 18th we knew we had three individual visitors – my excitement was contagious! But, the cameras also revealed one of dogs ambling into the area early one morning – so it was time to protect our spikey friends! A temporary enclosure was cobbled together with bits of wood and stones – no roof, but it should deter Pagan’s two sisters from being so nosy. It sort of worked, until a neighbouring cat was seen inside the enclosure -so on went a wire roof. Then I read that hedgehogs don’t like the rain – oh yes, you’ve guessed it, hubby was roped in to make a larger and more weather proof communal area!
By the time we were finished, just a month after the first house went out – we had a foot 8 ft X 10 ft log roll communal area, fully rain proof (plastic ridged sheeting) standing at about 4ft high with three hedgehog houses and a feeding station in! Then fear struck in my heart, like a mother paralysed with fear for a child – a fox scooted in through the entrance during the night of the 3rd July. Not on our watch! Hubby created an instant tunnel whilst I made a brick entrance to lessen the foxes chance of returning. I have nothing against foxes, okay maybe I do a bit. I’ve seen them destroy all the chicken in a coop and only walk off with one to eat. But - it’s a dog and its hunting or playing – so its just a fox’s nature. That does not mean a fox is going to be welcomed in the hedgehog area, far from it – when hungry enough, a fox will happily eat a hedgehog. The Yorkshire man taught me that years ago, that a sly fox will wait or push a ball of spikes into a pond, the hedgehog uncurls and fox grabs it’s dinner! Things have not changed that much over the years, at least not in the animal kingdom!
Towards the end of July, I had started looking into Hedgehog care and rehabilitation. I have tried my hand a nursing, a qualified phlebotomist amongst a complete career of too many different things, but this was a way to help the endangered little hedgehogs we’d come to love so much. So, plan 2 began.
The HMC, or Hog-monceux Medical centre. There is a large shed in the garden, normally used as club house for our archers, but with the government forcing us into lock down, it was not being used and the more we looked at it, the more we realised we could just use the end section of it as a medical room. Back to builders’ yard and an order for wood was made. We already had some 4inch open cellular foam from old archery targets I’d painted that could be used. Therefore, we knew, we already had the insulation for the project. By August it was completed. Then a lovely local lady on facebook marketplace was offering her old kitchen units free, so off goes my husband to collect it and turn this into a real useful medical room. Yes, within a week that was done too!
Then, if you believe in the power of animals or in things being connected – we got a strong message. On 10th August, whilst Terry and I were working out the next days plan of attack, sitting in the workshop next to the kitchen, there was an almighty clatter by the door. A hedgehog had decided to walk right in and knocked over a garden chair. Odd we thought but scooped it up and popped it back outside the hedgehog haven area. The very next night, one of the dogs came in and delivered the same Hedgehog to me, placing down ever so carefully next to my chair. I looked down expecting a ball, only to find it was a spikey hedgehog rolled up! Not a mark was found on the hedgehog, or the dog – it was just as if the dog bought it in and went “Here, you should know what to do with that” . This Hedgehog was fine, and was nicknamed “Magick” by Katie, as it had managed to climb onto Hogwarts, one of the houses in Hedgehog Haven.
So September came around and Terry, my husband was working on another Hedgehog design, perfecting what was right and what could be improved. Lockdown had been turned into the tier system so in between things, I’d managed to get myself and a dear friend, Katie – onto the Vale Wildlife course, booked for September. After several frantic phone calls, trying to keep up the governments changes to the tier system, we finally left for Tewkesbury and got to attend the First Aid & Rehabilitation course for Hedgehogs, before the next government lock down!
The course was inspiring, and the amount of knowledge shared was totally invaluable. If I had to be critical, I’d say it would be good if they managed to do a 2 or 3 day course as well. Once you start in rehabilitation, you suddenly realise there’s all these questions you should of asked on the course. Do not assume all vets know about Hedgehogs, for a start! You would think you could ask on some of the many forums, but you are likely to get your head bitten off by some who just “knows better”, so be warned! I have found it best to just simply write to someone on the forum and see if they reply, one such hedgehog hero, was kind enough to even post me some medication when a local vet want to look a slides of hedgehog poo with tapeworm! Oh yes, one of the things about hedgehog care is constantly needing to examine poo through a microscope – yet another necessary expense!
The next thing on the wish list was a Brinsea incubator – saw them at Vale Wildlife and they are just super awesome! They maintain a constant temperature, so weather its hot weather or cold, that incubator will remain at the same temperature – the one I decided on, was one with a built in humidifier – took a little longer to save for, but it’s already saved two lives and we’ve still only owned it for about two months!
Our first walk in patient, was the day after the Vale course! Simple tick removal but a female hog with four ticks on her eyes and numerous on her body. Fortunately, from working with other animals I know exactly how to get ticks off safely, and yes, dumping them in a small glass of vodka was yet another old way passed on from that Yorkshireman. No one else seems to do it, my mother used to drop them into methylated spirits, but I didn’t think the hedgehog would like the smell as their noses are so incredibly powerful! We nicknamed this one Becks, due to returning from Beckford the day before – and she still visits occasionally. Her weight and sample was all good, so she was released almost immediately, into the brand new design hog house. Towards the end of September, we were having an average of 12 visitors a night – I can tell this from identifying features each hog has, be it their mannerisms, or just the tilt of its nose. Watching daily night footage, from the 5 CCTV cameras – also helps! (Think that’s running at 7 now, unless you included the baby monitor, which is 8!) Still mindful of any visiting foxes, my husband decided to make a gorgeous set of garden gates – which of course meant, I had to draw an image onto wood, for him to swear at! Yes, he painstakingly, cut around every single spine. I’m not sure if he does it because he loves me, or the hedgehogs!
Then started the RAT problem. Eeekk! Or Squeak! I would say live and let live, they’re not going to harm the hedgehogs, but the neighbours may object (even though two came from under his shed every night)! They were leaving the new design houses alone due to the bends to the food area, but they were suddenly becoming rife in the communal area, we call Hedgehog Haven. Two little hogs in particular were scared by the rats and one just kept balling up every time the rat made a dash in and out for a bite of food from the food bowls. We did find a way to get rid of them. Somethings worked better than others – Apparently making a swing door on the entrance to the tunnel light enough for the hedgehog to move, will swing open for them but a rat won’t even try. Turns out, our hedgehogs couldn’t work it out either and thought I’d closed the restaurant! However, I’d tried leaving some fresh sheep wool in the haven for any hedgehog who wanted some soft nesting material (in hindsight not a great idea, as it can become entangled in their spines – but no one wanted it anyway) The huge, plus side, was that “sheep smell” that came with it – the rats couldn’t stand it! You can try pepper and growing mint but in time, most things will overcome their fear for a satisfied appetite.
We blocked some of the cracks around Hedgehog haven and then decided to excavate deeper; - One, I felt like the hunchback of notre-dame every single day that I went in to replenish or clean and two it would become more level and therefore help the little round ones not get stuck mid roll, when they rolled in a dip! So, out came the soil, slowly bucket by bucket. Then when the area was level, thanks to Facebook marketplace again, I placed some free concrete paving down and concreted it into position. This would stop the rats digging up from next door. When dry I put some of the soil back and then laid tree bark down to encourage the insects, that the hedgehogs dearly love to eat! So far – touching wood, I say “Success”!!
As autumn descended, Katie and I found ourselves collecting fallen leaves from the local footpaths, drying them out and leaving them in areas ready for the hedgehogs. Many seem delighted by this and it was delightful to watch them carrying off their treasure to their nests. We are slowly growing the garden edges to a more hedgehog friendly way of thinking, but it takes time for shrubs to establish, and this seemed like the perfect excuse to go for a walk in the nearby woods.
By late November of 2020 the last of our regular visitors decided he would hibernate. I know, your thinking, it’s winter – time to relax. Nope! Time to get Christmas cards printed from some drawings I’d done, including letting Vale wildlife use the designs, as a Thank you. Terry, meanwhile began building hedgehog houses like a machine. Getting ready for Spring? HaHa!! Nope, the first one up from hibernation was on January 31st and he caught me out, as there was no food put out! Within two weeks he was back regularly and that could only mean I’d have to purchase a water bowl warmer! How do you think I felt, watching him try to lick the ice off the usual flan bowl? As luck would have it, Amazon to the rescue – but the seller had sold his last one of the one I’d selected so sent me the next size up – Wowzer! That was one of the best extra’s I bought this year! No luxury missed, when our spikey friends visit.
By early Spring we were losing count after 15 Hedgehogs visited in one night. We knew there was one or two others but were not sure if they were the same ones or not. More cameras! Turns out, word was getting about with about 20 visitors. Where were they all coming from? Who cares, it’s just lovely to see them!
Hedgehogs can travel up to two miles a night in search of food or a mate. They are fickle little creatures and won’t think twice about deserting their regular food area for new hunting spot. We often find Rocket goes missing, she is a dear little girl who can walk around 20 feet in three seconds, but she hurries everywhere. We have yet to see her, stop and sniff the air, she has a schedule to keep, we are sure of it! She may not turn up for two months, and then suddenly she will return. Our food is back in favour then, her appearance has changed over the last two years but her mannerisms and routine has not. She always visits for between 7 and 9 minutes. Always stands on a particular plate so that it upturns onto her face and always dashes in and out like she’s on a mission.
Talking of food – We feed ours, Tesco Kitten biscuit. Why? Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so that thing about Bread and milk like your gran used to give them? Not a good idea – and even worse, are Mealworms -They can cause something called (MBD) Whilst mealworms are high in Phosphorous, and low in calcium the parathyroid tries to balance both out in the blood and takes the calcium from the bones and teeth which causes metabolic bone disease. This in turn causes fractures and even deformities in little ones. A hedgehog will eat almost anything, but just like a naughty child, they would constantly just eat sweets, if given the option – so if you hear of any neighbours feeding mealworms, PLEASE, just ask them to stop. There is no treatment for MBD – just a sad painful death. On top of this, as Hedgehog food is not regulated in the UK, you will often see mealworms, peanuts or sunflower seeds included in Hedgehog food – these companies are just after your money, and do not give a figs ar*e about what their product is doing to an endangered species!
Below: Feeding guide for Wild Hedgehogs.
Going back in my mind, across time and space – I remember seeing hedgehogs at about the age of 7. I was lucky enough to live on a farm in Catsfield, (UK) and a canny Yorkshire man, taught me many old rural customs and folk law. He was a type of Godfather to me, and his love of shire horses and the countryside taught me many things, that I can’t quiet remember why I know that now- He could forecast the weather and even make a horse pee by whistling to it! He taught me how to uncurl a hedgehog, and how to talk to them. He showed me the humour that the corvid/crow family has in spades, they way to tell bats apart from their flying pattern – how to plait a native horses mane, and even some herbs to use in the countryside, when you had nothing else. Oh how I wish Id written it all down – but we don’t do we?
Fast forward, years later, in 2009, my husband and I were on a weekend break when we spotted one at dusk on a evening walk around the grounds. This was when I realised, I had not actually seen a hedgehog for many years. But then I was not out looking for them, either. We were still busy working with people and animals and it wasn’t until we sold, downsizing and moved to a semi rural area, near Herstmonceux that we actually saw one again.
Our dear dog, Pagan, now sadly passed alerted us to one at night in the back garden. We thought “how lovely” – and that was it. Pagan then found the gap in the fence where they travelled through at night. Thinking, back now wondering if he was trying to tell me something! After his death, life changed in many ways including within a year the start of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. This proved to be an amazing opportunity, for us. It was a chance to take a huge step back and really look at things and life. Like many others, we started work in the garden, and eventually decided to build a Hedgehog house. Although, I did ask my husband to make three as apparently somewhere I had read that they had to be in threes! Totally untrue, but I was reading so much about them, I had little understanding as to what was true and what was just someone’s belief.
We cleared away a brick pile in the corner of the quietest garden and I decided that this was where the hedgehog village could be! I found an easy way to make a hedgehog feed station, using an under bed storage box and hey presto – we were away! Something ate there the first night!! This was on Wednesday 6th May 2020, I laid water down in one area and then sprinkled dry dust over it – just as that Yorkshire man had showed me many years ago and following day, I was delighted to see Hedgehog footprints! Not one to rest on my laurels, within a week the first CCTV unit was installed, and as if by magic, we had actual footage of these little darlin’s going in and out of the feeding station. By the 18th we knew we had three individual visitors – my excitement was contagious! But, the cameras also revealed one of dogs ambling into the area early one morning – so it was time to protect our spikey friends! A temporary enclosure was cobbled together with bits of wood and stones – no roof, but it should deter Pagan’s two sisters from being so nosy. It sort of worked, until a neighbouring cat was seen inside the enclosure -so on went a wire roof. Then I read that hedgehogs don’t like the rain – oh yes, you’ve guessed it, hubby was roped in to make a larger and more weather proof communal area!
By the time we were finished, just a month after the first house went out – we had a foot 8 ft X 10 ft log roll communal area, fully rain proof (plastic ridged sheeting) standing at about 4ft high with three hedgehog houses and a feeding station in! Then fear struck in my heart, like a mother paralysed with fear for a child – a fox scooted in through the entrance during the night of the 3rd July. Not on our watch! Hubby created an instant tunnel whilst I made a brick entrance to lessen the foxes chance of returning. I have nothing against foxes, okay maybe I do a bit. I’ve seen them destroy all the chicken in a coop and only walk off with one to eat. But - it’s a dog and its hunting or playing – so its just a fox’s nature. That does not mean a fox is going to be welcomed in the hedgehog area, far from it – when hungry enough, a fox will happily eat a hedgehog. The Yorkshire man taught me that years ago, that a sly fox will wait or push a ball of spikes into a pond, the hedgehog uncurls and fox grabs it’s dinner! Things have not changed that much over the years, at least not in the animal kingdom!
Towards the end of July, I had started looking into Hedgehog care and rehabilitation. I have tried my hand a nursing, a qualified phlebotomist amongst a complete career of too many different things, but this was a way to help the endangered little hedgehogs we’d come to love so much. So, plan 2 began.
The HMC, or Hog-monceux Medical centre. There is a large shed in the garden, normally used as club house for our archers, but with the government forcing us into lock down, it was not being used and the more we looked at it, the more we realised we could just use the end section of it as a medical room. Back to builders’ yard and an order for wood was made. We already had some 4inch open cellular foam from old archery targets I’d painted that could be used. Therefore, we knew, we already had the insulation for the project. By August it was completed. Then a lovely local lady on facebook marketplace was offering her old kitchen units free, so off goes my husband to collect it and turn this into a real useful medical room. Yes, within a week that was done too!
Then, if you believe in the power of animals or in things being connected – we got a strong message. On 10th August, whilst Terry and I were working out the next days plan of attack, sitting in the workshop next to the kitchen, there was an almighty clatter by the door. A hedgehog had decided to walk right in and knocked over a garden chair. Odd we thought but scooped it up and popped it back outside the hedgehog haven area. The very next night, one of the dogs came in and delivered the same Hedgehog to me, placing down ever so carefully next to my chair. I looked down expecting a ball, only to find it was a spikey hedgehog rolled up! Not a mark was found on the hedgehog, or the dog – it was just as if the dog bought it in and went “Here, you should know what to do with that” . This Hedgehog was fine, and was nicknamed “Magick” by Katie, as it had managed to climb onto Hogwarts, one of the houses in Hedgehog Haven.
So September came around and Terry, my husband was working on another Hedgehog design, perfecting what was right and what could be improved. Lockdown had been turned into the tier system so in between things, I’d managed to get myself and a dear friend, Katie – onto the Vale Wildlife course, booked for September. After several frantic phone calls, trying to keep up the governments changes to the tier system, we finally left for Tewkesbury and got to attend the First Aid & Rehabilitation course for Hedgehogs, before the next government lock down!
The course was inspiring, and the amount of knowledge shared was totally invaluable. If I had to be critical, I’d say it would be good if they managed to do a 2 or 3 day course as well. Once you start in rehabilitation, you suddenly realise there’s all these questions you should of asked on the course. Do not assume all vets know about Hedgehogs, for a start! You would think you could ask on some of the many forums, but you are likely to get your head bitten off by some who just “knows better”, so be warned! I have found it best to just simply write to someone on the forum and see if they reply, one such hedgehog hero, was kind enough to even post me some medication when a local vet want to look a slides of hedgehog poo with tapeworm! Oh yes, one of the things about hedgehog care is constantly needing to examine poo through a microscope – yet another necessary expense!
The next thing on the wish list was a Brinsea incubator – saw them at Vale Wildlife and they are just super awesome! They maintain a constant temperature, so weather its hot weather or cold, that incubator will remain at the same temperature – the one I decided on, was one with a built in humidifier – took a little longer to save for, but it’s already saved two lives and we’ve still only owned it for about two months!
Our first walk in patient, was the day after the Vale course! Simple tick removal but a female hog with four ticks on her eyes and numerous on her body. Fortunately, from working with other animals I know exactly how to get ticks off safely, and yes, dumping them in a small glass of vodka was yet another old way passed on from that Yorkshireman. No one else seems to do it, my mother used to drop them into methylated spirits, but I didn’t think the hedgehog would like the smell as their noses are so incredibly powerful! We nicknamed this one Becks, due to returning from Beckford the day before – and she still visits occasionally. Her weight and sample was all good, so she was released almost immediately, into the brand new design hog house. Towards the end of September, we were having an average of 12 visitors a night – I can tell this from identifying features each hog has, be it their mannerisms, or just the tilt of its nose. Watching daily night footage, from the 5 CCTV cameras – also helps! (Think that’s running at 7 now, unless you included the baby monitor, which is 8!) Still mindful of any visiting foxes, my husband decided to make a gorgeous set of garden gates – which of course meant, I had to draw an image onto wood, for him to swear at! Yes, he painstakingly, cut around every single spine. I’m not sure if he does it because he loves me, or the hedgehogs!
Then started the RAT problem. Eeekk! Or Squeak! I would say live and let live, they’re not going to harm the hedgehogs, but the neighbours may object (even though two came from under his shed every night)! They were leaving the new design houses alone due to the bends to the food area, but they were suddenly becoming rife in the communal area, we call Hedgehog Haven. Two little hogs in particular were scared by the rats and one just kept balling up every time the rat made a dash in and out for a bite of food from the food bowls. We did find a way to get rid of them. Somethings worked better than others – Apparently making a swing door on the entrance to the tunnel light enough for the hedgehog to move, will swing open for them but a rat won’t even try. Turns out, our hedgehogs couldn’t work it out either and thought I’d closed the restaurant! However, I’d tried leaving some fresh sheep wool in the haven for any hedgehog who wanted some soft nesting material (in hindsight not a great idea, as it can become entangled in their spines – but no one wanted it anyway) The huge, plus side, was that “sheep smell” that came with it – the rats couldn’t stand it! You can try pepper and growing mint but in time, most things will overcome their fear for a satisfied appetite.
We blocked some of the cracks around Hedgehog haven and then decided to excavate deeper; - One, I felt like the hunchback of notre-dame every single day that I went in to replenish or clean and two it would become more level and therefore help the little round ones not get stuck mid roll, when they rolled in a dip! So, out came the soil, slowly bucket by bucket. Then when the area was level, thanks to Facebook marketplace again, I placed some free concrete paving down and concreted it into position. This would stop the rats digging up from next door. When dry I put some of the soil back and then laid tree bark down to encourage the insects, that the hedgehogs dearly love to eat! So far – touching wood, I say “Success”!!
As autumn descended, Katie and I found ourselves collecting fallen leaves from the local footpaths, drying them out and leaving them in areas ready for the hedgehogs. Many seem delighted by this and it was delightful to watch them carrying off their treasure to their nests. We are slowly growing the garden edges to a more hedgehog friendly way of thinking, but it takes time for shrubs to establish, and this seemed like the perfect excuse to go for a walk in the nearby woods.
By late November of 2020 the last of our regular visitors decided he would hibernate. I know, your thinking, it’s winter – time to relax. Nope! Time to get Christmas cards printed from some drawings I’d done, including letting Vale wildlife use the designs, as a Thank you. Terry, meanwhile began building hedgehog houses like a machine. Getting ready for Spring? HaHa!! Nope, the first one up from hibernation was on January 31st and he caught me out, as there was no food put out! Within two weeks he was back regularly and that could only mean I’d have to purchase a water bowl warmer! How do you think I felt, watching him try to lick the ice off the usual flan bowl? As luck would have it, Amazon to the rescue – but the seller had sold his last one of the one I’d selected so sent me the next size up – Wowzer! That was one of the best extra’s I bought this year! No luxury missed, when our spikey friends visit.
By early Spring we were losing count after 15 Hedgehogs visited in one night. We knew there was one or two others but were not sure if they were the same ones or not. More cameras! Turns out, word was getting about with about 20 visitors. Where were they all coming from? Who cares, it’s just lovely to see them!
Hedgehogs can travel up to two miles a night in search of food or a mate. They are fickle little creatures and won’t think twice about deserting their regular food area for new hunting spot. We often find Rocket goes missing, she is a dear little girl who can walk around 20 feet in three seconds, but she hurries everywhere. We have yet to see her, stop and sniff the air, she has a schedule to keep, we are sure of it! She may not turn up for two months, and then suddenly she will return. Our food is back in favour then, her appearance has changed over the last two years but her mannerisms and routine has not. She always visits for between 7 and 9 minutes. Always stands on a particular plate so that it upturns onto her face and always dashes in and out like she’s on a mission.
Talking of food – We feed ours, Tesco Kitten biscuit. Why? Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so that thing about Bread and milk like your gran used to give them? Not a good idea – and even worse, are Mealworms -They can cause something called (MBD) Whilst mealworms are high in Phosphorous, and low in calcium the parathyroid tries to balance both out in the blood and takes the calcium from the bones and teeth which causes metabolic bone disease. This in turn causes fractures and even deformities in little ones. A hedgehog will eat almost anything, but just like a naughty child, they would constantly just eat sweets, if given the option – so if you hear of any neighbours feeding mealworms, PLEASE, just ask them to stop. There is no treatment for MBD – just a sad painful death. On top of this, as Hedgehog food is not regulated in the UK, you will often see mealworms, peanuts or sunflower seeds included in Hedgehog food – these companies are just after your money, and do not give a figs ar*e about what their product is doing to an endangered species!
Below: Feeding guide for Wild Hedgehogs.
OSCAR - The Handsome one.
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/8/0/138049961/published/oscar1.jpg?250)
After seeing a hog fight on our CCTV, two days later we finally managed to find and capture this little limping hog. Now, for sure he's a fine looking fella, but he must have been terrified to be snatched by a giant in a pair of rubber gloves! After three days of trying to reduce the swelling (typically over a weekend) we decided to take him to our local vets. Fortunately, I'd already removed the fleas and ticks and he had no parasites in his poo samples, probably about a year old but eating well, so I felt hopeful.
The first vet we saw, said his leg was broken in two places and that he would never return to the wild, so unless we were planning to keep him then we may have to consider PTS (put to sleep) Total cost of consult, medication and X-rays £120. I could understand, that could be the kindest thing, but after just three days, he was more accepting of us. What should I do? Well, the first thing I did was contact Vale Wildlife where we'd done our training. They provide a huge back up service to anyone who has attended one of their courses, and I was told immediately, that he should be fine to be released back into the wild. No sooner, had I put the phone down our vets rung me back. The senior vet felt, that due to his young age, and the fact that hedgehogs needed protecting she reckoned she could pin his leg and he could return to a normal life. I okayed him for surgery, the next day, agreeing before even asking my husband if we could afford the initial quote of £150.
Oscar's surgery was done by Rosario Gutierrez at Horsebridge Veterinary Practice, and I am in awe of her dedication. To put not one but two pins into a hedgehogs tiny little leg had to of been a challenge that required ultimate precision. I believe the bone to be only 3mm wide - that's like the thickness of a pound coin!
Oscar came back to us the same day, to recover from surgery. An immediate follow up appointment confirmed by X-rays that everything was positive and now it was down to him to heal.
Now, at Oscar's first appointment he was given antibiotics, let me tell you - it is almost impossible to get liquid antibiotics into a hedgehog. Trying to get a small ball of spikes to take his medicine was so difficult that I'd had to telephone Vale again (thank the gods, it wasnt in tablet form, I have memories of trying to get cats to their medication, believe me, a hedgehog is scarier! . So calling to ask Vale, if there was an easier way, or if Id somehow not heard the information on the course on what to do at the time we didn't cover this in the course. - No, we didn't and the reason why is because at Vale they always give medication by injection, which of course, we had covered on the course. Well, after his surgery Rosario kindly agreed to give me injections for him for pain relief and antibiotics.
Now, I have injected myself, others, horses, dogs and cats. I am a qualified phlebotomist - you''d think I could handle a hedgehog wouldn't you? I had such confidence to do this - big mistake. BIG! With all that experience, it did nothing to prepare me for a snorting, huffing, puffing obnoxious ball of spikes! Every single injection was a nightmare. Not for just for Oscar, but for me too. He'd flinch then I'd flinch. I kid, you not - dear reader - it was like something out of a comedy sketch. Plus on top of that, who had just blotted her copy book with a certain hedgehog? After two injections per day over five days, I'm still not sure who was more nervous. Things do get easier with experience, but Oscar and I came to an understanding - he could stab me with a quill but I'd do the injection with my eyes shut, so I didn't flinch as much as him!
Weekly check-ups, X-rays, more medication pretty much covered the next six weeks, along with more vet bills for each check up, aesthetic and X-rays - then the first pin was removed. Two weeks after that the second pin was removed. I'd spent days worrying about dehydration during his treatment, waking up almost hourly to check the baby monitor I'd bought which stayed by my bed on loud each night - and suddenly with that pin removed, we turned a corner. Hydrotherapy and supervised ramp therapy in a pen outside my husband made, changed Oscar's attitude completely. It was almost like he was enjoying himself. He actually started to drink water again, I could see the longing in his eyes to be free, but he still has stitches that had yet to dissolve. Six weeks after the pin was removed we waited til a clear warm evening appeared and decided it was release day! Naturally there was no backward glance, no thank you - but, there was such joy in knowing we were part of what returned him to roaming the hedgerows.
We'd put Oscar outside by "Hedgingham Castle" the latest new house, built especially for him and in he toddled. We had the camera set up and three hours later, a nose appeared at the doorway. Off went Oscar snuffling his way into the night air. Three days later, he appeared in Hedgehog Haven - we were delighted to know he was doing okay.
He still puts in an appearance every now and then, but we know he has moved back to his old home ground. I wonder if we will recognize him next season.
The first vet we saw, said his leg was broken in two places and that he would never return to the wild, so unless we were planning to keep him then we may have to consider PTS (put to sleep) Total cost of consult, medication and X-rays £120. I could understand, that could be the kindest thing, but after just three days, he was more accepting of us. What should I do? Well, the first thing I did was contact Vale Wildlife where we'd done our training. They provide a huge back up service to anyone who has attended one of their courses, and I was told immediately, that he should be fine to be released back into the wild. No sooner, had I put the phone down our vets rung me back. The senior vet felt, that due to his young age, and the fact that hedgehogs needed protecting she reckoned she could pin his leg and he could return to a normal life. I okayed him for surgery, the next day, agreeing before even asking my husband if we could afford the initial quote of £150.
Oscar's surgery was done by Rosario Gutierrez at Horsebridge Veterinary Practice, and I am in awe of her dedication. To put not one but two pins into a hedgehogs tiny little leg had to of been a challenge that required ultimate precision. I believe the bone to be only 3mm wide - that's like the thickness of a pound coin!
Oscar came back to us the same day, to recover from surgery. An immediate follow up appointment confirmed by X-rays that everything was positive and now it was down to him to heal.
Now, at Oscar's first appointment he was given antibiotics, let me tell you - it is almost impossible to get liquid antibiotics into a hedgehog. Trying to get a small ball of spikes to take his medicine was so difficult that I'd had to telephone Vale again (thank the gods, it wasnt in tablet form, I have memories of trying to get cats to their medication, believe me, a hedgehog is scarier! . So calling to ask Vale, if there was an easier way, or if Id somehow not heard the information on the course on what to do at the time we didn't cover this in the course. - No, we didn't and the reason why is because at Vale they always give medication by injection, which of course, we had covered on the course. Well, after his surgery Rosario kindly agreed to give me injections for him for pain relief and antibiotics.
Now, I have injected myself, others, horses, dogs and cats. I am a qualified phlebotomist - you''d think I could handle a hedgehog wouldn't you? I had such confidence to do this - big mistake. BIG! With all that experience, it did nothing to prepare me for a snorting, huffing, puffing obnoxious ball of spikes! Every single injection was a nightmare. Not for just for Oscar, but for me too. He'd flinch then I'd flinch. I kid, you not - dear reader - it was like something out of a comedy sketch. Plus on top of that, who had just blotted her copy book with a certain hedgehog? After two injections per day over five days, I'm still not sure who was more nervous. Things do get easier with experience, but Oscar and I came to an understanding - he could stab me with a quill but I'd do the injection with my eyes shut, so I didn't flinch as much as him!
Weekly check-ups, X-rays, more medication pretty much covered the next six weeks, along with more vet bills for each check up, aesthetic and X-rays - then the first pin was removed. Two weeks after that the second pin was removed. I'd spent days worrying about dehydration during his treatment, waking up almost hourly to check the baby monitor I'd bought which stayed by my bed on loud each night - and suddenly with that pin removed, we turned a corner. Hydrotherapy and supervised ramp therapy in a pen outside my husband made, changed Oscar's attitude completely. It was almost like he was enjoying himself. He actually started to drink water again, I could see the longing in his eyes to be free, but he still has stitches that had yet to dissolve. Six weeks after the pin was removed we waited til a clear warm evening appeared and decided it was release day! Naturally there was no backward glance, no thank you - but, there was such joy in knowing we were part of what returned him to roaming the hedgerows.
We'd put Oscar outside by "Hedgingham Castle" the latest new house, built especially for him and in he toddled. We had the camera set up and three hours later, a nose appeared at the doorway. Off went Oscar snuffling his way into the night air. Three days later, he appeared in Hedgehog Haven - we were delighted to know he was doing okay.
He still puts in an appearance every now and then, but we know he has moved back to his old home ground. I wonder if we will recognize him next season.
Jo-Jo, the angel and rascal combination!
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/8/0/138049961/published/jojo.jpg?250)
A near by neighbour called on the door one Saturday afternoon for advice regarding a hedgehog he had discovered. Grabbibg the first aid kit, it was a short walk to see this tiny one. Balled up and around the size of a tennis ball, I could tell it was badly dehydrated. Its little body breathing was slow and its heartbeat a little fast (wouldn't yours be? to be handled by these giants!) A few fleas and a watery eye along with lumps on its back, made the decision easy to get her back to, Hogmonceux Medical centre and get her in the incubator.
Five minutes later, we were back home, female. 198grams. I estimated around 8 weeks old, three days later, I'd say more like six weeks. I wonder what happened to Mum? Are there others? An immediate injection of fluids, (not a flinch in sight- for those that read my blog on Oscar, I'm now considering him a woose, as I don't think this little one has noticed one injection yet, and I dont think my injecting skills have changed that radically!) After the fluids, came a warm bath in antifungal treatment (very diluted due to her young age) and a spray over with natural flax oil. All this, and she was in the incubator within ten minutes of her arrival.
Then a panic for lactose free puppy milk ensured. I tried calling ALL the local pet shops, pets@home included, and then Six different veterinary practices. Typically, ours was closed at a weekend, as many are. Animals really have to understand that they should be ill in daylight hours and not at weekends, even if they are nocturnal by nature!!
An hour later, in the incubator, we could see she was a fighter. My husband drove out of the area to secure the correct formula of milk.It took over two hours in total to track the right stuff down and get it here. By the evening, this little angel had enjoyed two feeds and put on 32grams! Feeding continued around the clock every 2 hours. A week later, and I'm steeping it down from every three hours to every four hours. Thank God, for dear Katie, she covers the day shift whilst I get some sleep, yes its exhausting at times (she is such an inquisitive soul who constantly makes a mess, and I spend half my time at night, just going backwards and forwards to change her as she's tipped the water bowl over again!)However, a week after her arrival and she's gained 125 grams, her eye is completely cleared and her skin is in good condition. Today, is the second day of not giving her any additional subcutaneous fluids. She's now eating dry food, still the formula and water. She is doing so well.
Jo-jo, constantly buries herself in a cosy fleece and wants to be under something and therefore, secure. The constant heat of the incubator is helping too, she will need to grow prior to being released where she was found. At the moment she couldn't possibly fend for herself, she climbs with her legs crawling like a small kitten would. By size, she should be ready for release in the next ten days, I imagine - however, with no mum to teach her we will have to use judgement and common sense rather than following a "guide" on her size for release. It is against the law to keep a wild animal caged in this country, and its not something, Id ever wish to do - she is solely here for rehabilitation now.
My husband is altering a hedgehog house for her. Once she's out of the incubator, we will get her established in her own house, that way we can give the house to our neighbours and know she should have a safe place to go too, plus it will already have her scent in it, which we hope, will make her feel more secure.
Well Done, to our neighbours, for keeping an eye out and acting so quickly. If you see a small hedgehog out in the daytime, it usually needs a rescue and fast. A rescuers nightmare, is when someone says "I saw it in the garden for the last two days sunbathing" - that usually means there's little hope of saving them, so- to Jo and Steve, we applaud you! You helped saved this ones life!
UPDATE: Little JoJo was released the same evening as Oscar. Two evenings later, and JoJo was caught on camera returning to our garden for some food. Definitely a regular early visitor for a while, and then nothing. But, hedgehogs change their patterns regularly and I wouldn't be surprised if JoJo appears again one evening, in fact I hope Jojo does - but with their changing weight and appearance I'll be lucky if I recognise Jojo on the black and white footage of our CCTV cameras!
Hedgehog Family (October 2021)
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/8/0/138049961/published/babies.jpg?1639922084)
One morning I received a phone call from a couple near Laughton. A lovely gentleman told me he was concerned as there was a family of hedgehogs nesting by his house. He'd had a word with a local rescue and was told to leave them be. This often happens when it involves a family. If a nesting hedgehog is disturbed there is the chance that she will eat her young, to protect them. This is why I beg people with Hedgehog houses not to keep peeping in. Yes, its tempting - but by simply putting a blade of grass across the entrance you will know if a little hoggy has taken up residence in your house. Even rescues hesitate to disturb a nesting female. However, this guys instincts must have been on alert - after calling his local rescue he decided to call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. That's where he got our telephone number from. It sounded like they were probably okay, but being a nesting mum with two children I thought I might be able to go and look quietly. With this in mind, I'd decided to leave looking at the family until early evening.
Mum had not done a very good job of nesting, and they were easily seen under a few leaves by the side of his house when we arrived. It turned out it was four male hoglets and mum. Mum was the one, I was most concerned about. She looked like she was covered in paint. I wondered if someone had been painting their garden fence nearby, it was a sort of grey cream colour and had caused her spines to stick together.
We bundled them up into a cat basket and brought them back to base.
On arrival, it was straight into bath time. We use a natural insecticidal bath treatment, as I try to keep all our treatments as natural as possible.
Oh My.. Mum stank! A smell I immediately recognised, but hadn't even thought of. How could I be so dumb? I think somewhere in her travels she'd found a sewage pit or drain run off. Two baths and it was still stuck to mum's spines. I didn't want to stress her too much, and bathing the little ones too, meant doing it in a certain order to keep mum calm. I finished off with a generous dose of organic flax seed oil. I find this helps with most skin irritations, not that I could see any damage to any of the hedgehogs skins.
Night two and it was bath time again - Now, with the help of the oil penetrating the quills for 24hours, and a gentle plastic detangle comb and brush the sewage just ran off of mum. Her quills took on a healthy light brown colour and only two of the hoglets needed a third bath.
I always use F10, at first examination stage - I'd previously used this when we'd pick them up, but I will return to it if needed.
All of the family were dehydrated so we have to start them off with fluid injections.
I was hoping to avoid antibiotics and treat them all naturally. Unfortunately, one then two of the hoglets started coughing. Time to call the expert. A quick chat with my vets receptionist with a request for some Marbocyl and more fluids ensured and now I'm back to injecting a family of hedgehogs every day.
There are concerns. Within 24 hours, the coughing has lessened so I'm very hopeful there. But, young hedgehogs (these are certainly Autumn Juveniles) will have to reach at least 600 gms to be in a good condition to hibernate. Some young hedgehogs will hibernate at 450gms and survive. These are currently not out with mum learning how to forage and nest. If the finders were prepared to leave food out for them, I wouldn't be too worried. But, they were very concerned about rats - and to be fair, unless you know a secret we don't ,feeding hedgehogs does often mean feeding rats if they are in your area. A feeding station is the best answer.
UPDATE:
This lovely family made the weight and were indeed released back to the finders garden, at the end of October.
Mum had not done a very good job of nesting, and they were easily seen under a few leaves by the side of his house when we arrived. It turned out it was four male hoglets and mum. Mum was the one, I was most concerned about. She looked like she was covered in paint. I wondered if someone had been painting their garden fence nearby, it was a sort of grey cream colour and had caused her spines to stick together.
We bundled them up into a cat basket and brought them back to base.
On arrival, it was straight into bath time. We use a natural insecticidal bath treatment, as I try to keep all our treatments as natural as possible.
Oh My.. Mum stank! A smell I immediately recognised, but hadn't even thought of. How could I be so dumb? I think somewhere in her travels she'd found a sewage pit or drain run off. Two baths and it was still stuck to mum's spines. I didn't want to stress her too much, and bathing the little ones too, meant doing it in a certain order to keep mum calm. I finished off with a generous dose of organic flax seed oil. I find this helps with most skin irritations, not that I could see any damage to any of the hedgehogs skins.
Night two and it was bath time again - Now, with the help of the oil penetrating the quills for 24hours, and a gentle plastic detangle comb and brush the sewage just ran off of mum. Her quills took on a healthy light brown colour and only two of the hoglets needed a third bath.
I always use F10, at first examination stage - I'd previously used this when we'd pick them up, but I will return to it if needed.
All of the family were dehydrated so we have to start them off with fluid injections.
I was hoping to avoid antibiotics and treat them all naturally. Unfortunately, one then two of the hoglets started coughing. Time to call the expert. A quick chat with my vets receptionist with a request for some Marbocyl and more fluids ensured and now I'm back to injecting a family of hedgehogs every day.
There are concerns. Within 24 hours, the coughing has lessened so I'm very hopeful there. But, young hedgehogs (these are certainly Autumn Juveniles) will have to reach at least 600 gms to be in a good condition to hibernate. Some young hedgehogs will hibernate at 450gms and survive. These are currently not out with mum learning how to forage and nest. If the finders were prepared to leave food out for them, I wouldn't be too worried. But, they were very concerned about rats - and to be fair, unless you know a secret we don't ,feeding hedgehogs does often mean feeding rats if they are in your area. A feeding station is the best answer.
UPDATE:
This lovely family made the weight and were indeed released back to the finders garden, at the end of October.
End of 2021.
Finally, a chance to update the blog today :) . A very busy year for Help4hedgehogs! We have sold all of our 2022 slimline calendars, and the engraved glasses will be advertised later today. Christmas cards for 2022 are about to be completed and still I haven't decided how to promote and raise more funds for the vital equipment needed for our non profit hedgehog rescue.
It got too cold for me, following surgery in November to keep going back and fourth to the Hogmonceux medical room, so it was moved indoors temporarily, allowing us more space for the rehabilitated. Dancer, Yule, Donna, Holly, Blitzen, Cupid and Vixen (there's a Christmas theme going on here!) have all been bought in by our local hedgehog hero's. Sadly, all have parasites, most at least three, so medication, re-hydration, and warmth are the priorities. Even worse, we suffered our first failure - and lost dear Dancer. Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do, but we tried our best. I so wanted to wrap her in my arms as her time came - but that would of caused her more stress and only really comforted me. round 4 am, one morning, she gave up. She passed away in the warmth of the incubator as the cold winds blew outside.
We have been so lucky, to have operated for a year now and to have only lost one hedgehog is a small miracle. We listen to our guts, our hearts and try to put ourselves in the place of our patients. Hopefully by raising awareness and YOU by being a hedgehog hero, who acts fast - we will continue to have patients that thrive.
Holly, the smallest hedgehog found, is now gaining the most. Her Hero was a lovely lady who found her at the local crematoria, of all places! Apparently she whipped off her jumper and bundled this little hedgehog into it, and stored in a shopping bag, as she dashed along to us, Totally burdened with ectoparasites, this wee one would never have survived. Her ticks were so bad, that they were weighed rather than counted - and many had to be done by our vets, whilst she was sedated rather than put stress onto her little form. Today she has more than doubled her weight, and although still being treated for internal parasites her weight has now tipped over the 400 gram mark, so we have high hopes.
Also, a quick word, slightly off topic. To you, my dear reader - I raise my glass to you. For some have become Hedgehog Hero's and those of you I have have had the honour to meet, seem to be the nicest bunch of people. I will do all I can, so you can continue to keep your eyes peeled for those hogs in need of help. Thank you, for caring, thank you for sharing - but most important of all- They can't say it, but the Hedgehogs are grateful to you for giving them a chance.
Merry Christmas!
It got too cold for me, following surgery in November to keep going back and fourth to the Hogmonceux medical room, so it was moved indoors temporarily, allowing us more space for the rehabilitated. Dancer, Yule, Donna, Holly, Blitzen, Cupid and Vixen (there's a Christmas theme going on here!) have all been bought in by our local hedgehog hero's. Sadly, all have parasites, most at least three, so medication, re-hydration, and warmth are the priorities. Even worse, we suffered our first failure - and lost dear Dancer. Sometimes, it doesn't matter what you do, but we tried our best. I so wanted to wrap her in my arms as her time came - but that would of caused her more stress and only really comforted me. round 4 am, one morning, she gave up. She passed away in the warmth of the incubator as the cold winds blew outside.
We have been so lucky, to have operated for a year now and to have only lost one hedgehog is a small miracle. We listen to our guts, our hearts and try to put ourselves in the place of our patients. Hopefully by raising awareness and YOU by being a hedgehog hero, who acts fast - we will continue to have patients that thrive.
Holly, the smallest hedgehog found, is now gaining the most. Her Hero was a lovely lady who found her at the local crematoria, of all places! Apparently she whipped off her jumper and bundled this little hedgehog into it, and stored in a shopping bag, as she dashed along to us, Totally burdened with ectoparasites, this wee one would never have survived. Her ticks were so bad, that they were weighed rather than counted - and many had to be done by our vets, whilst she was sedated rather than put stress onto her little form. Today she has more than doubled her weight, and although still being treated for internal parasites her weight has now tipped over the 400 gram mark, so we have high hopes.
Also, a quick word, slightly off topic. To you, my dear reader - I raise my glass to you. For some have become Hedgehog Hero's and those of you I have have had the honour to meet, seem to be the nicest bunch of people. I will do all I can, so you can continue to keep your eyes peeled for those hogs in need of help. Thank you, for caring, thank you for sharing - but most important of all- They can't say it, but the Hedgehogs are grateful to you for giving them a chance.
Merry Christmas!