hedgehog

[andrew_shooter53]

where have people started seeing them so far, i seen my first 2 so far this year, i was lucky enough to save one from a badger who was only 2/3yds away meadering towards him/her, no i didnt shoot the badger i took the hedgehog to safety

 

[sh1kar]

I haven’t seen one for years. Even squashed on the road
S

 

[bogtrotter]

Not having a go at OP and I do know that hedgehogs are now protected but I do wonder how many people on here how big a predator the hedgehog is they are death on ground nest birds eating not only the eggs but killing the sitting bird.
As a young keeper we waged war on them changed times of course and I'm not advocating that kind of action now, but I
did wonder how many.realised the damage they can do.

 

[bogtrotter]

Not seen one this year yet but there are still quite a few around here, at least one hibernates under my garden shed
and pi@@es my dogs off because they can smell him under there and can't reach him.

 

[deerstalker.308]

This is/was true but sadly much less so now! Proper scarcity to see now. Tidy gardens, solid fences and of course slug pellets etc.

Not having a go at OP and I do know that hedgehogs are now protected but I do wonder how many people on here how big a predator the hedgehog is they are death on ground nest birds eating not only the eggs but killing the sitting bird.
As a young keeper we waged war on them changed times of course and I'm not advocating that kind of action now, but I
did wonder how many.realised the damage they can do.

 

[Kjf]

Dog has brought me 6 in the last 3 months , unharmed , there seems to be a few on some rough ground near me and next door has them under his decking ,

We have put hedgehog bridges in our fence panels for em though ,

Kjf

 

[EMcC]

I have seen one, a big fat one with a few big ticks on it's back, in my back garden these last two nights.
I was surprised to see them so early as it is still fairly cold hereabouts.

 

[gixer1]

Haven’t seen one for years...I used to like seeing them...but I have a lot of badger around this area so I guess that doesn’t leave much room for hedgehogs...

 

[andrew_shooter53]

Haven’t seen one for years...I used to like seeing them...but I have a lot of badger around this area so I guess that doesn’t leave much room for hedgehogs...

maybe to cold uo there perhaps theve moved south

 

[gixer1]

maybe to cold uo there perhaps theve moved south

We used to be plagued with them...and with global warming they maybe went north and got wet feet!

 

[T.eddie]

havent seen any this year but back end of last year had one sitting at my door next to the boot cleaner and also one running along the road towards the nature reserve

 

[Tugmanade]

I caught one in a rabbit trap 3 days ago, obviously let it go. Had maybe 3 or 4 last year in the traps.

 

[Cottis]

Not seen one in years. Stopped seeing them around the time the badger population exploded. Time will tell if the cull will have an impact on that.

 

[muddy42]

Politicians normally talk complete nonsense, but this discussion about hedgehogs is worth a listen. Rory Stewart got to know his constituency by walking around it, its a shame he gave up.

 

[andrew_shooter53]

Politicians normally talk complete nonsense, but this discussion about hedgehogs is worth a listen. Rory Stewart got to know his constituency by walking around it, its a shame he gave up.

perhaps he didnt give up perhaps he was badgered lol

 

[Fosbery Holster]

Haven’t seen any as yet but my old GWP would point them anywhere and everywhere then much to my annoyance retrieve them, she could scent them way across the fields then off she’d go, no stopping her, if you wanted to do a count locally she was the one, the worst part was taking the presented hedge pig off her then pull out all the spines from her lips and tongue, blood all over her mouth, (from the dogs mouth l may add), her enthusiasm for them never waned, she never harmed a one, she’s not with us anymore.

She also taught my HWV to find and point them, one time on my local Grouse moor the head keeper asked what was she pointing and l said hedgehog, well that was it no fecking chance there’s no fecking hedgehogs on my fecking moor, sent her in and the hedgehog legged it, that was it l fell about laughing and he just filled the air with more fecks, the HWV doesn’t retrieve them she’s far more sensible than the old GWP.

 

[hunter243]

Long gone are the nights when I would spot several on a nights lamping.
We're over run with Badgers, and the only place I see Hedgehogs now is very close to buildings.

 

[camodog]

I begun noticing them here (West Lancashire) a couple of weeks since whilst out foxing. One visits my fox bait most evenings. I watch it, (with thermal) emerge from under some brash 30 yds away and make a beeline to gnosh on the carcass. It has competition from a tawney owl some nights !

 

[foxinmad]

Dog has brought me 6 in the last 3 months , unharmed , there seems to be a few on some rough ground near me and next door has them under his decking ,

We have put hedgehog bridges in our fence panels for em though ,

Kjf

Yip same as you Kjf, my two dogs often bring them to me unharmed.

 

[User00036]

Not having a go at OP and I do know that hedgehogs are now protected but I do wonder how many people on here how big a predator the hedgehog is they are death on ground nest birds eating not only the eggs but killing the sitting bird.
As a young keeper we waged war on them changed times of course and I'm not advocating that kind of action now, but I
did wonder how many.realised the damage they can do.

Agreed Bogtrotter, lethal to partridges, their demise won't improve matters because badgers have filled the niche.