Why oh why did it walk across my garden....

Bet you he soon takes "ownership" of the little chap!

Good luck, do let us know how things go.

Doing a great job- hurrah. If little hedgie causes too much trouble at home. maybe you can find a neighour who has more space, or less resident moaners, to take him on.Hope it all works out.I had a lovely neighbour in Leicestershire who was the local 'hedgehog Lady' and so dedicated, with an (almost) equally dedicated husband Tell us how you get on.

We have a hedgehog "hospital" in Torrington, just a few miles away.

He needs to be by your beddie at night.

Why, Jingl ?

Is there a problem with fleas?

Because he may wake up in the night of course. Little feller has lost his mummy.

Amazing that it is still awake - and alive. Shows how mild it has been.

We had a mummy and 4 babies in our garden in the summer but when we rang the rescue centre, we said we couldn't keep it because of the cat. They took it in and we gave them a donation.

Of course he'll wake up in the night, they're practically nocturnal!

And most of them have fleas.

Oh yes.

I once found a hedgehog on the way home from school and promptly put it in my school cap and took it home to prevent the 'big boys' from doing something nasty to it. About five minutes after decanting it onto the living room carpet we were awash with its fleas jumping ship for new homes in the carpet and three piece suite. My mother didn't let me live that one down for many months!

Why do we instinctively start scratching when we read abot fleas ? I hope the little settles into his new home .

^^ about not abot !!!

I think mainly they appear in the day when they are either sick or starving.

Bit like your average teenager then!

The fleas are species specific phoenix they don't like feeding on me or my cats.

This one was hungry, it certainly ate a bit of cat food. Just hope he doesn't succumb.He/she seems quite healthy, curled up tight when picked up to place in box. He/she is only 220g and should be 660 - 700 g before releasing. Thats a lot of dog food. Apparently they also like bananas and raisins.

The fleas will jump onto another body but no live there grannyactivist thank goodness.

When we took in an underweight hedgehog, we put him in an (out of use) rabbit's cage -- IN THE GARAGE. i.e. in the temperature that would eventually acclimatise it.
He was taken out for exercise. On fine days in the garden and in bad weather (OK I'm daft) in the kitchen.
Hedgehog fleas are a different variety from human fleas and die very quickly if they don't have a host.

I did have a few itchy moments.

Hedgie did well on a diet of CATFOOD, more protein than dog food, and was eventually released ( but not till it was warm enough) to live a happy life outside.

I just asked DH if he has any advice for someone taking in an orphan hedgehog, He said " tell them to get a dog."
We did have a very soppy retriever at the same time, who seemed quite happy to supervise the weekly weigh-ins and resigned to the hedgehog meandering around his paws.

Dog fleas looooove me!

Crossed posts Flower. I forgot to say Good Luck!

Thanks dustyangel we have often taken in small animals and birds as my husband, being the local wildlife expert, is quite well known in these parts. I have taken advice though from St Tiggywinkles and they advised that as he/she is only 220g is much much to small to be cared for in temperatures under 62 degrees F. This is why the hoglet is indoors.

A friend on FB thought I had taken in a piglet that was walking across my lawn. Crossed wires methinks.

We are giving dog food as advised by St T. and will release the little love around April/May when the frosts have abated and he/she is between 650-700g. Wish me luck. -Oh you have. Thank you.

The latest is that he has eaten, slept, eaten, slept, weed, pooed , eaten and is sleeping at the moment. (that is my DDH not the hoglet.)

Does this mean that we are going to get daily up-dates regarding your husbands bladder activity and bowel movements?

We have a 'pet' hedgehog! I quite envy you. I don't know where ours hibernates though.

My son has a rabbit who has the run of our garden, just returning to her hutch at night unless it is very hot, when she sleeps in one of her burrows. She has various water dishes lying around which she shares with the birds and her friend the hedgehog. I tried to take photos but the dish it likes best is under a shelf on a wall behind a small conifer and of course it is always twilight. I wish it would eat more slugs and snails but I am hoping it will bring a family with it one day and eat more.

Good luck with it, I hope it survives - what a responsibilty.

Good luck flower what a smashing, caring person you are. I think I might have 'walked by on the other side' and then regretted it.