I know that this is a post which has been pending for a few weeks and have had so many requests to do an update on the hedgehogs in my garden. I do apologise guys and know a lot of you understand due to ill health, BUT this does not mean that this has affected Hedgeville in anyway and i have plenty to report about our lovely friends, some great but some sad too. This may be a long post with plenty of news & piccies so may want to grab a cuppa!!!!. Here are some pics of the first hoggies i photographed of 2011. Just bear in mind that some pics have been taken behind the conservatory door!.
THESE TWO LITTLE BEAUTIES ARE TRYING TO FATTEN UP AFTER BEING IN HIBERNATION FOR WEEKS. IT DOES NOT TAKE THEM LONG!!!
ANOTHER VISITOR!!!
I have only just been able to clean out the two hedgie cabins as they have been occupied all over the Winter!!! i am so happy knowing i was able to provide a safe & warm home for hibernation for some hoggies. I have left food out all year around and i monitored the tell tell signs that the hedgehogs had ventured out during their hibernation period (like the tiny hoof prints they had left in the snow when it was bad!!!). On the sad side when me and Dad were cleaning out one of the cabins we found a dead hoggy in there which had died during hybernation. I was quite shocked as the cabin was still being used as a home to other hoggies so it had obviously not bothered them.
Me and Dad redesigned Hedgeville adding more rockery and logs. I have let that whole area of the garden to become overgrown for their protection and to encourage them into the garden. I am going to buy more plants and build up more logs and nooks and crannies for them. The biggest thing i want to do though is invest in another couple of cabins which is imminent. It has not been uncommon when i do my checks to have a couple of hedgies in one cabin so feel there is a need for more housing. I promise i will take pics of Hedgeville when the sun comes out!!!.
FOR THOSE NEW TO MY BLOG THIS IS ONE OF THE CABINS THAT HOUSES THE HEDGIES BEFORE IT WAS PUT INTO HEDGEVILLE. ALTHOUGH SHE TRIED HARD MY LITTLE PRINCESS SIMONE COULD NOT FIT IN THE ENTRANCE!!!
THIS IS THE CABIN WHICH IS USED INSIDE FOR THE POORLY OR HOGGIES WHICH NEED LOOKING AFTER WHEN THEY NEED SOME TLC.
Ok so far this year there has been two casualties. BARNEY being the first poorly hoggy.
SORRY THE PIC IS A BIT FUZZY BUT A CLOSE UP OF BARNEY
THIS IS MY GORGEOUS BOY BERT GIVING BARNEY A PROTECTIVE SNIFF!
THIS IS ANOTHER HEDGIE CALLED BERYL WHICH HAD TEAMED UP WITH BARNEY. I THINK SHE WAS PROTECTING BARNEY. BELIEVE IT OR NOT BARNEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME SIZE AS BERYL BUT WHERE HE WAS SO SICK IT HAD AFFECTED HIS GROWTH.
I had brought in Beryl and Barney to be de-ticked which is part of my care for them as if left they can make the poor hoggies really sick & anaemic. I had noticed how tiny Barney was and as i was checking nightly i had noticed that he was dragging his hind left leg. I contacted Monica at the Wildlife Trust for advice and she asked me to bring him indoors and look after him till the following day when she would pick him up to take him to the sanctuary vets. She thought that perhaps he had a broken leg which could be treatable as long as any infection was not bad and gone into the bone.
Monica rang me on the Saturday evening (Barney was collected on the Friday) to give me the shock news that poor little Barney had been put to sleep. He had not got a bad leg after all but a massive ulcer in his poor tummy which was pulling his leg up presumably through the pain. He was in a bad way and the kindest thing to do was to let him go. I do not mind admitting to you all but i cried and cried all night. I had been looking out for him for a few weeks and had gotten so attatched. Monica had said though that had i not been feeding him and looking after him he would have been suffering a lot more and would probably have starved to death not being able to get to food. I also know that he had a good night when he was her with plenty of food and water and a lovely nest with fresh straw, oh and a big conservatory to sniff around in!. Here are some more pics of little Barney i would like to share;
I KNOW I DID MY BEST FOR LITTLE BARNEY & I AM GLAD HE IS NO LONGER SUFFERING XXX
My second casualty is Millie who was showing signs of Mange and also appeared to have a poorly left hind leg (i know alarm bells!). I nursed Millie for a couple of nights until Monica could come examine and pick her up. When Monica arrive she confirmed that she did indeed have Mange but was unable to examine her leg as Millie was playing hard to get!!!. One suprise though is that Monica thinks Millie could be pregnant with hoglets due to her shape!!! i would be so thrilled if she is. I just hope that she has no other problems that would jeopordise this. I have got to wait until Monday to find out the verdict so will keep you all posted. I have taken some lovely pics of Millie in the conservatory being looked after.
I HAD TO GET LITTLE MILLIE READY FOR MONICA TO EXAMINE
MILLIE DECIDES THAT SHE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO BE SOCIABLE!
OK SO SHE DECIDES THAT MAYBE SHE WILL STICK HER LEG OUT!
OK IF I REALLY HAVE TO I WILL STICK OUT MY SNOUT!!!
MIGHT EVEN TRY AND HAVE A LITTLE WANDER!
So there is little Princess Millie. I am keeping everything crossed that her prospects are good but unfortuanely as i have just learnt, nature and wildlife can be very up and down. There is a fine balance between letting nature take it's course and having to know when you have the right to intervene. As Hedgehogs are a protected species i know we need to look after these beautiful little creatures though and suffering is one thing i cannot bear to see.
I promise that i will keep you all posted ok. Im so sorry that it is such a gynormous post but i know all of my genuine hoggy followers will really appreciate it, especially as you have been nagging me about it!!!.
A very big thankyou to all for your beautiful and kind comments from yesterdays post. It really does mean so much to me.
Thankyou for stopping by.
Love & hugs Clare xxxx
