My First Hedgehog

I haven’t seen a live hedgehog all year. Last summer, for almost a month, we had one who came every afternoon and fossicked for grubs and worms somewhere near the study window. She (he?) kept it up for about a month, then, suddenly … nothing. No more hedgehog.

This year, I’ve seen only road kill. Yesterday though, on volunteer duty at Fountains Abbey, I noticed something very un-pheasant like among all the pheasants cruising on a lawn near the Banqueting House. It was a hedgehog. She (he?) delighted me . Like most people, I take very kindly to these charming – and now endangered – creatures.

#Kinda Square

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and living in North Yorkshire, where I walk as often as I can, write, volunteer, and travel as often as I can.

68 thoughts on “My First Hedgehog”

    1. Send a parcel please! Here, they’re known as the Gardener’s Friend, disposing of slugs in vast numbers. Any chance of your getting over to Quillan any time soon? I suppose not 😦

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      1. Not just yet. The cost for two weeks in a quarantine facility on return to NZ is expensive. And then there’s the risk of getting infected while away. It would help enormously if Europe eliminated the virus. Is that too much to ask?

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      2. I think it is. You have to remember we have incompetents like Johnson in charge here in the UK. I’m not sure how France is measuring up to that exceedingly low bar.

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  5. A lovely shot, Margaret. I love them too. Used to meet so many of them on evening dog walks and my dog always liked them too (maybe he just wanted to eat them though and couldn’t because of their prickly protection) Our heavily fenced gardens don’t help them unfortunately

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  6. How lovely that you managed to spot him/her. I would love to have hedgehogs in my garden. I have the sort of garden that they would thrive in – more than enough slugs to keep a whole family of hedgehog in meals all year, wood piles, uncut areas etc and have left gaps under fences with the neighbours, but nothing every puts in an appearance.

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    1. You may notice that a reader in NZ says they are a pest over there and he’s happy to send supplies. Maybe you should take him up on it 😉 ?

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      2. We used to have one in our garden a few years back that we often saw in the afternoons – as indeed we did the one I mentioned in my post. Yes, I think they do prefer night time though.

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  10. I gather hedgehogs out in daytime are in trouble (unless a mum foraging for family). We came across a little fellah a month or so back on an open area (lots of dogs) – he was very weak. It was a bank holiday and the refuges were on well-earned holiday.
    We eventually found a hospital an hour away (well, 2 hours with 3 road closures) and the charming lady whisked him off for rehydration (delaying the hydrotherapy session of an enormous male). It gave us a great excuse for a day out in the country – our friends think we are mad!
    A question for our NZ friend: how are hedgehogs pests? What harm do they do? (Eat ground-nesting birds’ eggs perhaps?) Certainly we should extend an invitation before that great country realizes what wonderful animals they are!

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  11. Apologies to Steven – I had missed your link. It looks like a classic case of a foreign import running riot through lack of natural predators (mind you, ours have only foxes and maybe owls, + cars of course!) and an abundant supply of food. I suspect we have far fewer ground-nesting birds, whereas I believe they are a major feature of your wonderful wildlife. Anyway, they are indeed endangered here, and they are the gardener’s friend.

    Incidentally, I believe the holes at the foot of fences are intended to give them a run from garden to garden (they have wide ranges) so hopefully would not allow too many rabbits in, especially if the right size (13cm x 13cm). If you have a concrete gravel board, try steps up to the wood.

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  12. Greetings from sunny Dumfries and Galloway. My new favourite place too!
    I’ve seen a hedgehog in my garden this year, back in the summer, and also crossing the lane in the village. Not sure if it was the same one but I loved seeing it/them! x

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  13. Greetings from sunny Dumfries and Galloway. My new favourite place too!
    I’ve seen a hedgehog in my garden this year, back in the summer, and also crossing the lane in the village. Not sure if it was the same one but I loved seeing it/them! x

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      2. No Jo, it’s not you. It had indeed disappeared. I’ve had to upload it again (it wouldn’t take it from my WP media file.) I’m so sick of blocks already, and it’s only Day One. And Becky’s been a total star too, but I’m beyond help. Do you use Blocks?

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      3. I used blocks the first 2 days but I accidentally sidestepped into Classic and listening to your problems I don’t think I’m going to hurry back. You doing a Zoom with Sue & Co soon? 🙂 🙂

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  16. Well, I am from NZ, and I didn’t realise that hedgehogs were pests!! Then not all that D.O.C. does make sense to many of us residents! I certainly don’t think that they should be classed as a pest and I haven’t seen any for years—Margaret, wonderful photo of your UK one.

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    1. I’m guessing hedgehogs were introduced to NZ? Always a tricky problem these non-native species. I was watching a programme yesterday about camels in Australia upsetting the balance of the local ecology. But I would rather like to see a kiwi (bird variety) marching along our country lanes!

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      1. Not likely to see a kiwi walking around here very elusive birds. Though we do live not far from a kiwi hot spot. I’ve heard them in the wild never seen them.

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  17. Oo lovely photo of a lovely hedgehog. Isn’t it nearly time they started hibernating? Or, perhaps it’s a bit too early and not enough leaf-fall for them yet.

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  18. now that’s interesting – the picture you re-uploaded onto the web page is different from the one on the email page, though it could be the same delightful little Fuzzypeg! Actually I don’t know which had to be re-uploaded. §

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    1. Oh, eagle-eyed Ros. I’ve had frustrating problems with a new way of posting that WP is pushing – hard. It became clear last night that my image had disappeared, and in the end, for technical reasons, it was easier to upload a new one. Same chappie (chap-ess?) – I took lots, and the subject didn’t appreciate it.

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  19. I’ll be sending you hECTOR and MATHILDE, two hedgehogs my neighbour photographed (badly, but still….) on our patio when she watered my plants….. They stayed a long time but only surfaced at night. They are lovely!

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  20. What a thrill it must have been to spend time watching the hedgehog – there is something entrancing and almost fairytale-like about hedgehogs, but then I have never had the good fortune to see one.

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  22. Great news. The little guy we found (they named him Floppy for his condition) has pulled through, thanks to the wonderful Suffolk Hedgehog Hospital at Ousden near Newmarket. He is now looking for a good home. If you are interested (sadly we can’t) please contact them. They are careful who they trust but if you are keen and have the right environment you could be lucky. Give him our love.

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