|
|
Post by merlin on Sept 25, 2011 6:12:50 GMT
I hear this morning that our Hedgehogs are, like the Red Squirrel, declining at a rate of knots. But what can we do? I've never seen one here not even flat on the lane but have no idea why.
|
|
|
|
Post by peony on Sept 25, 2011 8:52:26 GMT
I hear this morning that our Hedgehogs are, like the Red Squirrel, declining at a rate of knots. But what can we do? I've never seen one here not even flat on the lane but have no idea why. I used to see them regularly until a few years ago Merlin, but I haven't seen any for a while now, although I do find broken snail shells in the garden quite often. I've got a log pile covered in leaves and ivy at the top of the garden to make a hiding place for them but I'm not sure what else I could do to encourage them. I don't use slug pellets. Its very sad to hear they are declining so quickly  |
|
|
|
Post by hywel on Sept 25, 2011 9:41:56 GMT
I've seen one or two over the past few years, but not as many as I used to see. I haven't seen any run over for years. I'm glad about that, but it does mean there are not so many around.
Maybe we could try to provide them with places to hide and hibernate etc in our gardens when we know they're there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Fractal on Sept 25, 2011 11:50:49 GMT
Used to see (or hear them) all the time in the summer until a couple of years ago. It is a a shame not just for being quite iconic (and cute of course) but because they are an integral part of our wildlife.
I don't think they will become extinct but their lower numbers are a concern.
|
|
|
|
Post by wildlifefriendly on Sept 25, 2011 12:18:40 GMT
I was reading about the Hedgehog and its decline not long ago. Modern gardening does not suit the hedgehog, our gardens are too secure, they can’t get through the fences from one garden to the next. The conservationists are asking people to make gaps in or under fencing to allow them to move from garden to garden. Gardens are now too tidy, there are not the piles of leaves or neglected corners etc for them to hide and breed in. The use of slug pellets has reduced their food supply.
Have a look around your garden and see if there is anywhere a hedgehog could get in and if it did, is there any food or shelter for it?
|
|
|
|
Post by Cherry on Sept 25, 2011 12:57:38 GMT
I was reading about the Hedgehog and its decline not long ago. Modern gardening does not suit the hedgehog, our gardens are too secure, they can’t get through the fences from one garden to the next. The conservationists are asking people to make gaps in or under fencing to allow them to move from garden to garden. Gardens are now too tidy, there are not the piles of leaves or neglected corners etc for them to hide and breed in. The use of slug pellets has reduced their food supply. Have a look around your garden and see if there is anywhere a hedgehog could get in and if it did, is there any food or shelter for it? I saw something on television about this and the neighbours concerned really did create a wildlife corridor by opening parts of the fence at the bottom of the gardens. It is a marvellous idea for lots of different sorts of wildlife, especially as we seem to be putting up houses at a fast and furious rate. I blame them for a lot of this, not the farmers who have lots of set aside for them and care about the wildlife. |
|
|
|
Post by SueA on Sept 25, 2011 17:39:31 GMT
I don't see hedgehogs much nowdays either but I'm sure there are still some visiting us as I've found hedgehog 'poo' on the path & do find broken snail shells like Peony which could be hedgehogs or frogs. I think slug pellets probably finish a lot of them off as how can they tell whether the slug/snail they're eating has eaten poison until they eat it unless it's already shrivelled up & died, I don't use pellets & wouldn't even trust the ones which say 'wildlife friendly'. I have piles of logs & old wood & a hedgehog house (which isn't used) but I think maybe the cat puts them off from staying in our garden. As W.F. & Cherry have said there's a campaign to get people to leave gaps in fences etc. so they can pass through gardens, they don't have that problem with us, they just walk down the ginnel beside our house through the gate which isn't there(fell off the hinges!) & through the gaps in the wonky fences! ;D
You can also put out special hedgehog food or cat food (not fish based) for them but I'd only be feeding all the local moggies if I did that! ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by floydie on Sept 25, 2011 20:45:25 GMT
We have one thats a regular visitor  all the gardens are open (as you can see from the pics i post) the fence moves so its easy for small animals to crawl under . |
|
|
|
Post by Geranium on Sept 26, 2011 4:10:59 GMT
I've never seen a hedgehog here. squashed or not. I don't understand it - where are they? This would be an ideal area for them, I'd have thought. I'd like a resident slug/snail eater!  |
|
|
|
Post by Louise on Sept 26, 2011 6:09:41 GMT
They're there, you're just not seeing them.
It would be impossible for your location not to have a diverse selection of wildlife there - put food out for them and set those night cameras up and sit back and watch what unfolds during the hours of darkness.
|
|
|
|
Post by wildlifefriendly on Sept 26, 2011 6:29:53 GMT
Do you have badgers in the area geranium? We do so we don't get hedgehogs either.
|
|
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Sept 6, 2018 17:58:08 GMT
Aug 10, 2019 9:01:47 GMT