The European Hedgehog

I may not have seen any Hedgehogs as yet, but I've certainly seen some of the local cats about.

Tuesday morning I woke up at 6:00am as usual in order to listen to some of the fantastic bird song and to watch the activity at the bird feeders. This all went well, until I was greeted to a rather un-welcome visitor: a cat.

This black and white feline was far from my friend, as it insisted on sitting just below my bird table, like it was rooted to the spot. Despite me hissing like hell at it from out of my bedroom window, the cat refused to move, giving me some rather strange looks. The hissing normally works, but on this occasion it didn't, and so the birds were faced with the prospect of being killed.

When a Blackbird landed in a tree just above the cat, I decided it was all too much, and quickly raced downstairs and in to the garden.

The sight of me in my PJs was all too much for the cat, who fortunately made a quick exit. The Blackbird had also fled the scene, but I'm sure both the cat and the Blackbird will return again. For the cat, this will be all too soon...

That same day I saw another cat, this one looked like a dog. It did not show much interest in the bird table, but you never know.

Well, this morning that black and white cat returned, and I again found myslef having to run up the garden just to put it off the birds.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like cats (in some ways) but sometimes they really do anger me. I know it is just the cat's natural bahaviour: to hunt birds etc, but cat owners could do 1 or both of the things below to stop them from killing:

1) They could attatch a bell to the cats collar which will alert birds and other animals that the cat is hunting them.

2) They could try to keep the cat inside at dusk and dawn, which is when most cats hunt.

The above is just a few ways cat owners could do their bit for wildlife.

But there is another problem: cats steal the Hedgehogs' food.

Luckly, Hedgehog feeding stations should prevent cats, dogs and foxes from getting the Hedgehogs' food.

You can do your bit by building or buying a Hedgehog feeding station (see the Attract Hedgehogs page.)

Bethany.

I have made a compost heap at the bottom of the garden in the hope that it will attract Hedgehogs.

Insects that Hedgehogs eat such as beetles and worms will make their home in a compost heap. As well as that, Hedgehogs like  to nest in compost heaps. They will sometimes breed and hibernate in them too.

Log piles also attract insects, so there will be plenty of natural food for the Hedgehogs.

Do you have a compost heap or a log pile? If so, leave a comment and tell me about it.

Bethany.

I have just made a new Hedgehog box for the garden.

I got a normal plastic storage box (no lid) and cut a small, square entrance hole in it using a saw. I then filed down the sharpe edges that was left on the box by the saw.

I put the Hedgehog box under some conifers at the bottom of the garden.

The plastic box was the only thing I could find to make a Hedgehog Home, so It'll do for the time being, untill I build or buy a proper box.

Bethany.

Nearly March! And that will be the time when some Hedgehogs will start to emerge from their nests.

Then, I'll be able to see if I'm lucky enough to have Hedgehogs at this new location, all very exciting indeed.

In the mean time, I'm going to give you a few updates on the other wildlife in my garden. This is mainly birds, but there are some fantastic species which I have been fortunate enough to see.

Well, I have seen a Grey Wagtail a Blackcap and a Fieldfare, which are all a first for me. Before I moved here, I had never seen any of them before, but, due to feeding the birds, I have managed to attract them.

There have been many other birds I have seen too, but I will only name a few: Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin and many, many more.

I have been busy creating many different habitats for all sorts of wildlife, hopefully attracting Hedgehogs.

Bethany.

We have recently moved house to a new location, and because of this, I have been very concerned about the Hedgehogs at the old house.

You see, now that I have moved, no Hedgehogs can be fed at the old location.

My worry is that they will come round from hibernation and find no food.

As you know, this is a very dangerous time of year for Hedgehogs, and just a little bit of food could save a life.

I have seen no Hedgehogs as yet in our new garden, hopefuly this is just because they are in hibernation. I will have to wait and see if we are again lucky enough to have Hedgehogs in the area, which is going to be hard.

In the mean time, please remember to feed the Hedgehogs in your garden!

Bethany.