Hedgehog hibernation draws to an end

[dmcg]

We have a hedgehog box in the garden in which an unknown number are hibernating. (Although we saw very few last year, the year before there was a group of three or four who called almost every evening.)

Now, one of the hedgehogs is blocking the entrance, and we assume that's because the box is full. We piled more straw over it and gave them an extension, in the form of a cloche over the entrance to shelter the one in the doorway.

Anyway, we've have begun to ponder what happens in a few weeks time. Because it must be warmer, I would expect those inside will awake first. How do they past the one blocking the entrance? We don't want to interfere, but we do want to make sure they have the best chance they can. Will they have enough energy reserves after hibernation to move the other one out of the way? Should we look at opening up the back - it unscrews - or will that disturb them too much?

[ragdall]

Golly, Dave,
We don't even have hedgehogs here so I'm just guessing. Having regretted my attempts to "help" animals in the past, if it was me, I'd leave them alone to sort it out.

I'd probably also be checking it fairly often and if I noticed that the door was still blocked and there seemed to be much activity in the box, then I might open the other end.

Won't the first to wake make enough noise and commotion to wake the doorkeeper?

rags

[maryinkentucky]

Can they dance like the caddyshack gopher?

They are such pests around here, I would be inclined to relocate the box! We used to have a skunk that liked to walk through the yard every afternoon. After discussing various ways to trap him in a "have a heart" trap, we were afraid we might catch him, and it was just best to wait for him to move on.

[alliekiwi]

Oh, how gorgeous! I hope you are able to take a photo of them coming out of their box! Hedgehogs are cute. It's such a shame they're so prickly, as I'd love a cuddle.

Is the weather not right for them in BC, rags, or were they just not introduced to the area? I don't think there are hedgehogs in Australia, but we have them in NZ - introduced by the early settlers, although I've no idea if it was intentional or not.

Allie

[dmcg]

I don't quite understand, Mary. Are hedgehogs considered pests where you are? Or do you mean gophers?

Hedgehogs are usually thought of as "The Gardener's Friend" here

[ragdall]

Jan 28, 2009 10:32:10 GMT dmcg said:

I don't quite understand, Mary. Are hedgehogs considered pests where you are? Or do you mean gophers?

Or groundhogs?

There are no hedgehogs native to North America. We have porcupines, though. I don't know what climatic conditions a hedgehog can endure. I'd think that the South Coast of BC and Vancouver Island are similar in climate to parts of Europe where hedgehogs live.

[Pip Freeman]

Allie, I find it hard to imagine early settlers carrying hedgehogs over in their luggage! A good subject for a cartoon---'Have you anything to declare? Yes, a hedgehog.' :>)

It's still a bit early for hedgehogs to emerge from hibernation, we can still have frosts up to the end of March. Sadly we never see hedgehogs,a bit odd as our wood and garden would seem a perfect setting for them.

[alliekiwi]

Hee! Yes, hard to imagine, isn't it? However, the only native land mammals we have are bats, along with a heap of native birds, some reptiles and frogs. Everything else was introduced.

I imagine the hedgehogs came along accidentally with some plants or farming materials.

Allie

[maryinkentucky]

Jan 28, 2009 10:32:10 GMT dmcg said:

I don't quite understand, Mary. Are hedgehogs considered pests where you are? Or do you mean gophers?

I think I see the difference now. I'm talking about groundhogs. I had heard of hedgehogs, like in Alice in Wonderland, but I assumed they were similar to groundhogs. Evidently, they're not.

I saw a stage productions of Alice, and little children played the hedgehogs and were really cute.

February 2 will be Groundhog Day, so you can probably see what one looks like when they try to hype the Pennsylvania town where Puxatawnie Phil lives.

[maryinkentucky]

Make that Punxsutawney Phil. www.groundhog.org/photos/phil/

[alliekiwi]

I remember him from the film 'Groundhog Day'! Very ugly-cute, if you know what I mean.

You can find anything on the internet. Apparently hedgehogs were deliberately initially introduced to New Zealand in 1870 with more being brought over in 1885 and 1892. The settlers thought they would be good in New Zealand gardens, as well as reminding them of home.

Thank goodness they didn't have a yearning for snakes or other nasties.

Allie

[sandrainsydney]

Allie, are hedgehogs pests in NZ - or did they settle in comfortably in a mammal free environment?

Settlers in Australia introduced lots of thing from Home (notice the capital!) - to make the strange new land just like the one they left. Didn't work, & we're left with pests like rabbits & foxes (almost everywhere across Australia), sparrows (everywhere except Western Australia), blackberries & other plants.

Other things were introduced later for different reasons. A new crop could be followed by it's pests, then a predator to remove the pest ...

So we have acres of prickly pear & cane toads marching across Australia.

sandra

[dmcg]

The hedgehogs woke up and left last night, but we didn't get a chance to see them go. With luck we will see them around the garden over the next few weeks.

[ragdall]

Dave,
What a shame that you missed the exodus. Were they all able to get past the door keeper okay?

Have you seen them around the garden? Will they stay in your garden all summer or do the wander extensively?

[alliekiwi]

Hedgehogs aren't considered pests here, Sandra. I don't think they have disturbed the native eco-systems too much as they don't eat native birds and can't get up into nests to eat the eggs.

Dave, what a shame you missed the hedgehogs leaving their box! Next year you'll need to set up some sort of camera!

Allie