My Temporary Hedgehog

[Azure Chinchillas]

Back in October - my dog found a very tiny wild hedghog in our garden. He weighed in at only 334g. Survival weight for hibernation is 600g. So I decided to over-winter him myself.

So ..... after several months of five star meals and accomodation - little wild hedghog now weighs 600g and is ready for release back into the wild in April.

I have chosen a hedgehog-safe release site - but as they can cover up to a mile in one night's roaming - he will have to take his chances - as all our native hedgies do.

I know he is not quite a pet hedgehog - but I just wanted to share ......

 

[Chinniechantel]

He is just adorable! I could not let him go, he is just too cute. How lucky to have them in the garden. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Nancy]

He is adorable. I don't think I could let him go either. lol

 

[Azure Chinchillas]

Sadly - although they are much-loved in the UK - so many of them get squashed on the roads.

I have been known to hold up traffic in order to help a hedgehog cross a road.

Yes - I am going to miss him very much.

 

[FiaSpice]

I would be upset seeing dead hedgehog on a road, I think they are a protected species in the UK right?

 

[menagerie]

He's gorgeous. I've always wanted a European hedgie. I have fond memories of growing up in England and seeing them out and about.

What a lucky guy to have found you and your dog.

 

[Azure Chinchillas]

Yes they are:

http://admin.maturetimes.co.uk/node/3657

But everyone drives like prats - and some people even deliberately aim the car at hedgies.

Other hedgehog dangers include:

Getting poisoned by slug pellets.
Getting tangled in plant netting.
Getting injured by "strimmers".
Getting burnt alive in bonfires (they like to hibernate in garden bonfire piles - and people don't think to check them first before burning them).

Gardeners in the UK are responsible for a lot of hedgehog injuries and deaths due to various gardening activities. There is not enough education in the UK on how to be more "Hedgehog friendly".

Lots of people put out food for them - but then forget to make their garden safe.

 

[pricklesnquills]

He is a cutie! Thanks for taking care of him!

 

[EveningChin]

Oh I love these hedgehogs! He is precious. Thanks for keeping him safe for the winter.

 

[LucksAngel28]

Ah, he's too cute! I just wanna kiss that little face! :kiss: He's very lucky to have been found by you and cared for through the winter! :cheer:

 

[Vortex]

awwwwe! i want to live somwhere with hedgies! haha hes adorable! it would break my heart to see him go.

 

[hedgepig]

Aww he's so cute!
Did he have a name? Was he as tame as an African Pgymy?

 

[Azure Chinchillas]

Aww he's so cute!
Did he have a name? Was he as tame as an African Pgymy?

No - have deliberately tried not to get him too tame.

I think he may have got tame in time - you can handle him (he does not bite) - but I want him to keep his roll-up instinct.

He has been known as the Chinhog - as he temporarily lives in the chin unit.

 

[Cinder and Me]

He has been known as the Chinhog - as he temporarily lives in the chin unit.

Hehe, that is adorable.

Will he be ok when released? I hope he still has all his hunting insticts after his 5-star meals he got. hehe He sure was lucky to have found you.

 

[Azure Chinchillas]

He is being fed less canned meat and more natural foods now - earthworms and beetle larvae.

Sadly I cannot acclimatise him in an outdoor pen - as my dog will try to get at him. However the chin unit is not heated - so temperature wise he will be fine (that's why I am leaving it until April - as there is less risk of frost at night).

He should immediately be able to forage for himself - but the people who own the land he will be released into put food out for hedgehogs anyway - so there will be free meals for him if he needs it!

 

[3CsMommy]

You've done a wonderful thing. Thanks for thinking of the critters.

 

[payge]

He is so cute. I wouldn't be able to let him go. I think i would cry everytime I saw a dead Hedgie on the side of the road. In fact I would probably have to pull over and move him off the road and have a tiny "funeral" for him. With my husband giving me that REALLY?!?! look the whole time. I make him pull over when there is turtles in the road so that i can move them.

 

[Jenn]

How wonderful of you to take such good care of him throughout the winter. I would have done the same thing if I were in your position. Tough to let the little guy go but it's the right thing to do. Hopefully he'll get himself into a better weight next winter and will be just fine without human help.

What a wonderful story, thanks for sharing!

 

[Azure Chinchillas]

Prolog:

The hedgehog was "soft released" about 6 weeks ago. I selected a hedgie-friendly garden (not too near a main road) owned by two hedgie-mad people!!

He was released in a little weather-proof nest-box - and food was put out for him. This meant that his transition back into the wild was easy - as he already had somewhere cozy to sleep - and food available - just in case he could not source them for himself.

He ate the food and returned to the box for 4 nights - and then ventured out into the big wide world on his own.

I hope he is safe and sound and enjoying life on the wild side!!!

 

[addictedtochins]

Oh how cute, do you have more pics of him? Maybe baby pics?