HOG LOG January/February 2022.
Started on New Years day by getting Blitzen out into Hog-monceux medical room, the purpose adapted and well insulated shed. No sooner was he happily settled in an adapted rabbit cage (straw nesting area and separate food area) than Donna was following suit.
Only a weeks rest and the next two were fighting it out to see who would reach the magic weight and maintain it for three days - do that, and they're off outside.
Due to the urgency, it seemed worthwhile buying a couple of "hedgehog hutches" off of amazon. Not quiet such a good idea! When they arrived, which was quick - we couldn't believe someone could actually claim they were safe - the wire was stapled on the inside of the door - meaning the poor hedgehog could catch its nose easily on such a silly design. No hinges, the doors operate on a screw! in fact there was only 6 screws in the entire hutch. Two for the latches and others for the doors - the rest was stapled together.
Super hubby to the rescue! Firstly, he turned the door around so the wire was on the outside, then he built a second roof by un-stapling the top, this immediately provided a better height for nesting, at the same time he built a frame for the lid, so we have hinges on the top for easy access, when cleaning. The original divider was so insecure we just tapped it out. Instead a purpose built thick nesting box was added, which can only be removed from the roof.
Then to finish off a layer of foam was fitted to the base and the original roof piece was then added to the bottom, providing more insulation and warmth.
Before the month was out four hedgehogs had moved into the HMC Hogmonceux medical room.
Then by the 7th of February, after more medication, Buddy Holly and Vixen moved out there too.
The ICU remained still and quiet - for 24 hours.
Firstly, I'm on standby for a hog that didn't appear from Seaford. Fingers crossed he's okay, guessing he's gone into hibernation. Then I've been watching one of our hibernation hogs down in Hogingham - he appeared to limping quiet badly on the camera. So late one night, he got evicted from his safe house. Something I am loathe to do, I'd much rather wait til they are outside the house. Fortunately, this one didnt seem to mind. To my surprise when I got him indoors, it was Baloo. An old bully hog who's been visiting our garden on and off for the last two years, that we know of!
He's very easily identified because he is A dark blonde Hedgehog.
Baloo is still a European hedgehog but his skin pigmentation is different. As you can see, he has a pink nose. In fact, he's pink all over! He is not a true albino because he does not have red eyes and his spines are not white. He is also not fully blonde due to the darkness of his spines. Blonde hedgehogs are also known as leucistic hedgehogs, due to the absence of normal skin pigmentation. Such an unusual looking chap and friendly to a point. He does not seem to mind our attentions or having a bath (lots, he seems kind of greasy.) This is the first blonde hedgehog and we've had in to treat and I am told they are very rare in the wild.( I'd love to see an albino hedgehog too, I've only seen pictures online! ) We also know there is another pink nosed one in the area, who looks like a smaller version of this chap, we'd even nick named him mini me Baloo - time will tell if he's a dark blonde too!
Although, rare here, travel to the Channel Island of Alderney and around 40% of the hedgehogs are blonde! This is due to the lack of predators, over there they seem to have thrived!
Only a weeks rest and the next two were fighting it out to see who would reach the magic weight and maintain it for three days - do that, and they're off outside.
Due to the urgency, it seemed worthwhile buying a couple of "hedgehog hutches" off of amazon. Not quiet such a good idea! When they arrived, which was quick - we couldn't believe someone could actually claim they were safe - the wire was stapled on the inside of the door - meaning the poor hedgehog could catch its nose easily on such a silly design. No hinges, the doors operate on a screw! in fact there was only 6 screws in the entire hutch. Two for the latches and others for the doors - the rest was stapled together.
Super hubby to the rescue! Firstly, he turned the door around so the wire was on the outside, then he built a second roof by un-stapling the top, this immediately provided a better height for nesting, at the same time he built a frame for the lid, so we have hinges on the top for easy access, when cleaning. The original divider was so insecure we just tapped it out. Instead a purpose built thick nesting box was added, which can only be removed from the roof.
Then to finish off a layer of foam was fitted to the base and the original roof piece was then added to the bottom, providing more insulation and warmth.
Before the month was out four hedgehogs had moved into the HMC Hogmonceux medical room.
Then by the 7th of February, after more medication, Buddy Holly and Vixen moved out there too.
The ICU remained still and quiet - for 24 hours.
Firstly, I'm on standby for a hog that didn't appear from Seaford. Fingers crossed he's okay, guessing he's gone into hibernation. Then I've been watching one of our hibernation hogs down in Hogingham - he appeared to limping quiet badly on the camera. So late one night, he got evicted from his safe house. Something I am loathe to do, I'd much rather wait til they are outside the house. Fortunately, this one didnt seem to mind. To my surprise when I got him indoors, it was Baloo. An old bully hog who's been visiting our garden on and off for the last two years, that we know of!
He's very easily identified because he is A dark blonde Hedgehog.
Baloo is still a European hedgehog but his skin pigmentation is different. As you can see, he has a pink nose. In fact, he's pink all over! He is not a true albino because he does not have red eyes and his spines are not white. He is also not fully blonde due to the darkness of his spines. Blonde hedgehogs are also known as leucistic hedgehogs, due to the absence of normal skin pigmentation. Such an unusual looking chap and friendly to a point. He does not seem to mind our attentions or having a bath (lots, he seems kind of greasy.) This is the first blonde hedgehog and we've had in to treat and I am told they are very rare in the wild.( I'd love to see an albino hedgehog too, I've only seen pictures online! ) We also know there is another pink nosed one in the area, who looks like a smaller version of this chap, we'd even nick named him mini me Baloo - time will tell if he's a dark blonde too!
Although, rare here, travel to the Channel Island of Alderney and around 40% of the hedgehogs are blonde! This is due to the lack of predators, over there they seem to have thrived!
Pink nosed Baloo, pictured above.
Hog Log October 2022
What on earth happened to this year? One moment we are happy in February looking forward to spring and the next thing, I'm looking at Autumn rolling in!
We flew through early spring, getting houses ready for Yule, Blitzen, Donna & Cupid, instead of making them from scratch I simply begged for some broken bedside cabinets at a local charity furniture store. Hubby ripped them apart and made a new houses for each of them! Meanwhile, Vixen and another hedgehog Storm were also ready to be released at nearby neighbours. Sometime in between Midnight appeared, yes dear reader at almost midnight hence the name! Then, just as we catch our breath Miranda and Odin needed some assistance. They both came from another rescue, which may seem odd - but any rescue worth its salt will know if you have too many animals in at once, something or someone will fail Mistakes and accidents happen. The rescuer is doing far too much to give each animal 100% of their time - and that's when we suddenly feel we have failed that one. Its not usually the case, at all - but we do have a habit of blaming ourselves. Any decent rescue would rather share the burden so they can concentrate on the ones that need the most help. Hence you may hear rescued from a rescue, which really means we are helping someone out.
My near neighbour and friend is turning into a valuable release site. She is knowledgeable enough to recognise when there's a problem, but more importantly I can trust her to look after someone who isn't on medication and just needs some tlc for a few days, prior to release.
Miranda came in with a breathing condition and the need for a heat pad and Odin came in, with three legs and the need for somewhere safe.
By April, many of our hogs were getting up from hibernation and most of our wintering ones were going home. Cupid from 497g to 1256g, Donna from 377g to 1059g, Yule from 320g to 1429g and dear Blitzen who came in at 453g and went home in one of the new houses at 1537g! All went home to their base in Polegate. They live in a lovely area near the churchyard, I was looking at one of the babies we had in this year, I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of Cupids!
We also decided to update our road sign, so that people can find us easier - a simple black hedgehog on a white reflective board, with a solar light angled on top does the job well. For some odd reason, that also made me want to re-paint one of our windows, downstairs - to hedgehogs of course!
Miss Prickles came in during April, what a gorgeous girl. A little dehydrated which was sorted immediately and many parasites. She instantly became Princess Pickle as she was such a cutie. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and one morning immediately after feeding she just passed away. I was heartbroken. It took me hours to summon up the courage to phone the owner. Stupid, I know, But, still to this day, I question myself on - what did I miss? Losing a hedgehogs in part of being a rescue. By the time we get to some of them the window for saving them has passed - but this year there is two that stick in my heart, Eve and Princess Pickle - both should of survived. Both were doing so well. Sudden deaths or losses are always the hardest. Jib-Jab also arrived in May, a sunny happy little hog who couldn't wait to get back home.
May arrived with Hagrid. Our first hedgehog in with Balloon syndrome. Balloon syndrome is a rare condition in hedgehogs in which gas is trapped under the skin as a result of injury or infection, causing the hedgehog to inflate. It is akin to surgical emphysema seen in humans, although somewhat more profound in hedgehogs due to their tissue structure. It is thought to be caused by a sudden blow to the hedgehog, such as a kick from a horse or human. Balloon syndrome is a life threatening condition, and without medical intervention the hedgehog will die of suffocation. Once I lifted this huge beautiful hedgehog out of his box, you could see the roundness. He was gassed up to such an extent that his spines were popping off. Typically, when you need a vet they are closed! Oh, I kid you not - animals do tend to be ill over weekends and at night, just like us humans but typically most vets only operate from 9 til 5 Monday to Friday. Now, our vet has a half day on a Saturday, which just happened to be the day this balloon hedgehog arrived. Its gone mid day, so I called another local vet - Asked the question "Have you operated on hedgehogs, I have one with balloon syndrome and he needs deflating" - The local vets in Battle admitted they hadn't, and I seriously value them, for their honesty. I'm seriously thinking of a three hour car drive to Vale. Its an emergency, so we hop in the car and head off up the road. Looking in the car park of my usual vets as we pass. Luck would have it, I spotted a car and we raced around the back with our emergency. I had the Vale first aid book with me and the vet just accepted us, with no questions asked about my going around the back! One x-ray several de-pumps and slowly some of the gas came out. Home for medications, but with the expectancy that it could and probably would gas up again. I was just praying it wouldn't be on the Sunday! Fortunately, the gods must have smiled and Hagrid, is still with us. He's lost weight from his largest point which was 2.3kg to a healthy, I can very almost curl at 1560g. Hagrid, are only Slimmer of the Year 2022 !
May and June bought more and more hogs to our door. Mrs Tiggywinkle from Peacehaven. Wanda from Sovereign Harbour, Jubilee from Polegate to name just a few. Our furthest being from near Chichester. This is also when the babies start arriving. Along with Good Omen, a hedgehog found on the beach! Yes, actually on the beach. Not sure of he just fancied a day at the seaside, it has been a rather hot summer in the year of 2022 but seriously, a hedgehog on the beach? Yes, one walking on the pebbles. He came in at 80g so probably around 2 maybe 3 weeks old. My husband, also went up to Tewkesbury to attend the Vale wildlife Hedgehog first aid and rehabilitation course - so now even our driver is qualified to help!
When one comes in, alone - I'm looking for another rescue that can take it on. Its not fair it being alone, it needs the body warmth of other baby hedgehogs to survive. Some rescues wont even talk to us, and can not be bothered to return our calls or emails. I find this so sad, as we should all be looking out for the animal first. I am not your competition, I'm someone else you can help or would offer you support. Think about that, the next time you wish you had a spare incubator! Others from further a field have been so much help.
Yet, more babies by July. I lost one, which someone found it weighed a mere 19g when it came in, this is a newborn. Blind, no hearing just white spikes and nothing else. Was it lost? Did mum kick it out of the nest? (In which case something is wrong with it and it doesn't matter what I do, it wont make it) so many unanswered questions.
Someone took their shed down and found hoglets - five. Put them in an incubator and fed them around the clock every two hours - none made it. Slowly, one by one they passed away. Others came in and have done really well, blossomed and are now outside or in the rehab area waiting to be released into the wild in a few days time. In between the babies was Mack from Marsden in Kent, Tilly from Crawley and Xena warrior Princess from Battle and Sonic from Hastings, who had been hit by a car and suffered with a broken pelvis and several leg fractures, another marvellous vet, Iain managed to amputate the leg and time healed the pelvis. Basil also arrived dehydrated and full of parasites. In August, things still weren't slowing, with Eve from Winchelsea, Hope, Rosemary and Marjoram all hoglets from Cooden. Eve, I bought back to life twice. CPR on route home and again at home. Slowly warming the hog up, using my body heat, four hours later and she's ready for the incubator and can go in with other hoglets near her size.
August arrived with the dreaded flystrike, several babies arrived. One had been seen for three days and each time I asked and even told the person to collect it and get this hog to me. Not always will someone listen, even when they have called to ask for advice.
A hedgehog simply does not sun bathe, my dear. You taking photos of it and sticking some dog meet under its nose is not going to help. You picked it up and put it under a bush. So you do not have to look at it. Its covered with flies, there's white grains of rice looking stuff all over it and still you do not call. If that had been a cat, you would of done something. Then you call a rescue on the third day... and unfortunately, you wont be the only one. Maggots are crawling out of its ears and its eyes are sunken because its so dehydrated, you think there's movement and only find yet another maggot. Maggots do not just eat some of the animal and fly away. They eat it from the inside out. Its awful. Horrific. No words can explain. So, IF YOU SEE A HEDGEHOG OUT IN THE DAY, CALL THE RESCUE RIGHT AWAY!. Oh, and put it in a box before you call. 'We have had many a call saying there's a hedgehog outside and then the caller finds it gone when they return to it!
By the tail end of September, and we are starting to slow down. Ell arrived from the local travel lodge, obviously couldn't get a room! Fillipe has arrived, a handsome loving hog, with a big heart and a lung condition, back to the vets we go! Sofia came in, but we put her outside in the sanctuary, not sure if she's pregnant or not, but don't want to take the chance so she can chill out there for a month before we let her go. OPPS!! THE SANCTUARY - dear reader. I almost forgot! We have fenced off an area in our walled garden and given it to the hedgehogs! Odin, Thor and Sonic are out there, the three tripod amigos along with Baloo whose resting pending retirement (in all honesty he'd been released once in the summer and returned limping within three days- maybe arthritis?) and Sofie, just in case she is pregnant! .(She was gaining double the amount of grams per night to everyone else so it is a possibility and as I didn't want her to give birth in captivity, we thought it best she bides her time in the sanctuary! DRP Fencing solutions did a fabulous job and some of the local community have been marvellous by donating some plants to the area.
Another month before the juvenile's are due in - the band of hoglets that just wont fatten up enough to cope with hibernation this year. Its going to be a cold one, so put extra food out - they all need it right now.
Now, we are in mid November and still Hoglets are coming in. At under 200g, there is no chance they will make it through the winter - not without help.
We flew through early spring, getting houses ready for Yule, Blitzen, Donna & Cupid, instead of making them from scratch I simply begged for some broken bedside cabinets at a local charity furniture store. Hubby ripped them apart and made a new houses for each of them! Meanwhile, Vixen and another hedgehog Storm were also ready to be released at nearby neighbours. Sometime in between Midnight appeared, yes dear reader at almost midnight hence the name! Then, just as we catch our breath Miranda and Odin needed some assistance. They both came from another rescue, which may seem odd - but any rescue worth its salt will know if you have too many animals in at once, something or someone will fail Mistakes and accidents happen. The rescuer is doing far too much to give each animal 100% of their time - and that's when we suddenly feel we have failed that one. Its not usually the case, at all - but we do have a habit of blaming ourselves. Any decent rescue would rather share the burden so they can concentrate on the ones that need the most help. Hence you may hear rescued from a rescue, which really means we are helping someone out.
My near neighbour and friend is turning into a valuable release site. She is knowledgeable enough to recognise when there's a problem, but more importantly I can trust her to look after someone who isn't on medication and just needs some tlc for a few days, prior to release.
Miranda came in with a breathing condition and the need for a heat pad and Odin came in, with three legs and the need for somewhere safe.
By April, many of our hogs were getting up from hibernation and most of our wintering ones were going home. Cupid from 497g to 1256g, Donna from 377g to 1059g, Yule from 320g to 1429g and dear Blitzen who came in at 453g and went home in one of the new houses at 1537g! All went home to their base in Polegate. They live in a lovely area near the churchyard, I was looking at one of the babies we had in this year, I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of Cupids!
We also decided to update our road sign, so that people can find us easier - a simple black hedgehog on a white reflective board, with a solar light angled on top does the job well. For some odd reason, that also made me want to re-paint one of our windows, downstairs - to hedgehogs of course!
Miss Prickles came in during April, what a gorgeous girl. A little dehydrated which was sorted immediately and many parasites. She instantly became Princess Pickle as she was such a cutie. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and one morning immediately after feeding she just passed away. I was heartbroken. It took me hours to summon up the courage to phone the owner. Stupid, I know, But, still to this day, I question myself on - what did I miss? Losing a hedgehogs in part of being a rescue. By the time we get to some of them the window for saving them has passed - but this year there is two that stick in my heart, Eve and Princess Pickle - both should of survived. Both were doing so well. Sudden deaths or losses are always the hardest. Jib-Jab also arrived in May, a sunny happy little hog who couldn't wait to get back home.
May arrived with Hagrid. Our first hedgehog in with Balloon syndrome. Balloon syndrome is a rare condition in hedgehogs in which gas is trapped under the skin as a result of injury or infection, causing the hedgehog to inflate. It is akin to surgical emphysema seen in humans, although somewhat more profound in hedgehogs due to their tissue structure. It is thought to be caused by a sudden blow to the hedgehog, such as a kick from a horse or human. Balloon syndrome is a life threatening condition, and without medical intervention the hedgehog will die of suffocation. Once I lifted this huge beautiful hedgehog out of his box, you could see the roundness. He was gassed up to such an extent that his spines were popping off. Typically, when you need a vet they are closed! Oh, I kid you not - animals do tend to be ill over weekends and at night, just like us humans but typically most vets only operate from 9 til 5 Monday to Friday. Now, our vet has a half day on a Saturday, which just happened to be the day this balloon hedgehog arrived. Its gone mid day, so I called another local vet - Asked the question "Have you operated on hedgehogs, I have one with balloon syndrome and he needs deflating" - The local vets in Battle admitted they hadn't, and I seriously value them, for their honesty. I'm seriously thinking of a three hour car drive to Vale. Its an emergency, so we hop in the car and head off up the road. Looking in the car park of my usual vets as we pass. Luck would have it, I spotted a car and we raced around the back with our emergency. I had the Vale first aid book with me and the vet just accepted us, with no questions asked about my going around the back! One x-ray several de-pumps and slowly some of the gas came out. Home for medications, but with the expectancy that it could and probably would gas up again. I was just praying it wouldn't be on the Sunday! Fortunately, the gods must have smiled and Hagrid, is still with us. He's lost weight from his largest point which was 2.3kg to a healthy, I can very almost curl at 1560g. Hagrid, are only Slimmer of the Year 2022 !
May and June bought more and more hogs to our door. Mrs Tiggywinkle from Peacehaven. Wanda from Sovereign Harbour, Jubilee from Polegate to name just a few. Our furthest being from near Chichester. This is also when the babies start arriving. Along with Good Omen, a hedgehog found on the beach! Yes, actually on the beach. Not sure of he just fancied a day at the seaside, it has been a rather hot summer in the year of 2022 but seriously, a hedgehog on the beach? Yes, one walking on the pebbles. He came in at 80g so probably around 2 maybe 3 weeks old. My husband, also went up to Tewkesbury to attend the Vale wildlife Hedgehog first aid and rehabilitation course - so now even our driver is qualified to help!
When one comes in, alone - I'm looking for another rescue that can take it on. Its not fair it being alone, it needs the body warmth of other baby hedgehogs to survive. Some rescues wont even talk to us, and can not be bothered to return our calls or emails. I find this so sad, as we should all be looking out for the animal first. I am not your competition, I'm someone else you can help or would offer you support. Think about that, the next time you wish you had a spare incubator! Others from further a field have been so much help.
Yet, more babies by July. I lost one, which someone found it weighed a mere 19g when it came in, this is a newborn. Blind, no hearing just white spikes and nothing else. Was it lost? Did mum kick it out of the nest? (In which case something is wrong with it and it doesn't matter what I do, it wont make it) so many unanswered questions.
Someone took their shed down and found hoglets - five. Put them in an incubator and fed them around the clock every two hours - none made it. Slowly, one by one they passed away. Others came in and have done really well, blossomed and are now outside or in the rehab area waiting to be released into the wild in a few days time. In between the babies was Mack from Marsden in Kent, Tilly from Crawley and Xena warrior Princess from Battle and Sonic from Hastings, who had been hit by a car and suffered with a broken pelvis and several leg fractures, another marvellous vet, Iain managed to amputate the leg and time healed the pelvis. Basil also arrived dehydrated and full of parasites. In August, things still weren't slowing, with Eve from Winchelsea, Hope, Rosemary and Marjoram all hoglets from Cooden. Eve, I bought back to life twice. CPR on route home and again at home. Slowly warming the hog up, using my body heat, four hours later and she's ready for the incubator and can go in with other hoglets near her size.
August arrived with the dreaded flystrike, several babies arrived. One had been seen for three days and each time I asked and even told the person to collect it and get this hog to me. Not always will someone listen, even when they have called to ask for advice.
A hedgehog simply does not sun bathe, my dear. You taking photos of it and sticking some dog meet under its nose is not going to help. You picked it up and put it under a bush. So you do not have to look at it. Its covered with flies, there's white grains of rice looking stuff all over it and still you do not call. If that had been a cat, you would of done something. Then you call a rescue on the third day... and unfortunately, you wont be the only one. Maggots are crawling out of its ears and its eyes are sunken because its so dehydrated, you think there's movement and only find yet another maggot. Maggots do not just eat some of the animal and fly away. They eat it from the inside out. Its awful. Horrific. No words can explain. So, IF YOU SEE A HEDGEHOG OUT IN THE DAY, CALL THE RESCUE RIGHT AWAY!. Oh, and put it in a box before you call. 'We have had many a call saying there's a hedgehog outside and then the caller finds it gone when they return to it!
By the tail end of September, and we are starting to slow down. Ell arrived from the local travel lodge, obviously couldn't get a room! Fillipe has arrived, a handsome loving hog, with a big heart and a lung condition, back to the vets we go! Sofia came in, but we put her outside in the sanctuary, not sure if she's pregnant or not, but don't want to take the chance so she can chill out there for a month before we let her go. OPPS!! THE SANCTUARY - dear reader. I almost forgot! We have fenced off an area in our walled garden and given it to the hedgehogs! Odin, Thor and Sonic are out there, the three tripod amigos along with Baloo whose resting pending retirement (in all honesty he'd been released once in the summer and returned limping within three days- maybe arthritis?) and Sofie, just in case she is pregnant! .(She was gaining double the amount of grams per night to everyone else so it is a possibility and as I didn't want her to give birth in captivity, we thought it best she bides her time in the sanctuary! DRP Fencing solutions did a fabulous job and some of the local community have been marvellous by donating some plants to the area.
Another month before the juvenile's are due in - the band of hoglets that just wont fatten up enough to cope with hibernation this year. Its going to be a cold one, so put extra food out - they all need it right now.
Now, we are in mid November and still Hoglets are coming in. At under 200g, there is no chance they will make it through the winter - not without help.