The European Hedgehog

I don't think of my night of Hedgehog watch could have gone better.

But there were a few problems to solve first...

Firstly, I can't watch out of my bedroom window like normal, because the lawn is too dark etc, making it difficult to see any Hedgehogs. So, I came up with the idea that I watch them from the comfort of our car, which is parked in an ideal place. This would give me everything I needed: A shelter where I could watch the Hedgehogs from.

I waited in the car until about 11:40pm. Then, I decided to take a walk around the garden, see what was about.

I immediately was aware of several Hedgehogs near by. Very near.

I stood on the path, straining my ears, and, at first, a quiet snuffling. But then followed by some definite movement. However, this Hedgehog I did not see because it was in the undergrowth.

Basically, I spent a while walking about, sitting on chairs and just watching, when I finally got what I was there for.

I was standing at the bottom of our path, looking out over the lawn, when suddenly, there were these rather loud rustling noises. Very loud, in fact. They were coming from the bottom of our back garden...So I watched and waited. Half of me expected to see a Cat or a Fox from the amount of noise that was being made; but after a few moments, a small Hedgehog came in to sight.

Now, every Hedgehog that I find, I'm going to make a record of, this Summer.

I picked the small Hedgehog up, and quickly carried him inside to the house. My intentions were to give him a health check and get some information about him.

I took some pictures, marked him, made sure he was hydrated, before then returning him to the place of which he was found. I will keep my eye out on him.

Here is the information about him:

I found:

- Name of Hedgehog: Titch

- Found: Back garden lawn

                12:00am

- Weight: 358g

- Sex: Male

- Age: About 1 year

- Medical Notes: 2 ticks visible

                              Fleas

                              Cough/wheeze

- Over all condition: Good

- Marked: Red Nail Varnish to top half

- Released: Back garden lawn

                      12:15am

- Other Notes: Given water and food

- Status: Released

The good thing is, at the time of holding this Hedgehog in one hand, there was another 2 out and about in the garden at the same time. So, you can imagine how excited I am now.

I'm going to keep making notes and records, hopefully I'll be able to get an in-site in to their lives alot more now that I'm 'allowed' to stay out in the garden until such times.

Bethany.