The hedgehogs in my garden have multiplied and grown fat. Mrs Hedges and her four babies continued to feed at all hours of the day and night, evidently nesting under my brushwood pile. Then one of them appeared several days running on its own, foraging by day. It started to move oddly and I called a hedgehog rescue charity. They said it must be ill and that hedgehogs are only active by day if they are ill or injured. I handed over Bumblepig (the daywalker) to them and they advised me that if any others showed up by day they should be picked up, put in a box and taken to a rescue centre or a vet.
So today, for the first time since Bumblepig left, one of the younglings appeared foraging quite blatantly at midday. It seemed quite confident and healthy but bearing in mind the advice I'd been given I got a cardboard box, put it in it and called the vet. The vet said that if it didn't seem sick or injured I should call the RSPCA and they gave me the phone number. By this time the youngster was so full of beans that it was climbing out of the box and I had to move it into a travel cage for guinea pigs and hamsters. It pooped a fair bit, tried to escape by climbing, pushing its nose through the bars and biting them (they are coated so it wasn't hurt, don't worry), and showed every sign of being fit as a flea. The RSPCA said that daytime foraging is actually normal because sometimes they can't find enough food a night, and if the animal is a healthy weight (which if I'm any judge it is, felt the same to me as just over half a kilo of flour), not injured or evidently sick, let it go but maybe give it some extra food first. They recommended dog food (NOT fish based), ground up dog biscuits, minced meat or liver. It had been eating dried mealworms fallen from the bird feeder tray and they said that wouldn't hurt it but hedgies get much of their fluid from their food so make sure there is water available (there always is). They said I should only worry if it shows up three or more days in a row. So I fed the little chap and away it went into the shrubbery - then came out and started eating mealworms again.
So here's my problem. The rescue charity said ANY hedgie that shows up by day is in trouble, get them to help the first time you see them. The RSPCA said it's no big deal and wait till it shows up more than a couple of times before worrying. Who do I trust? I don't want any more getting sick, but I don't want to kidnap one that is simply doing its own thing. Any experts out there who can help?
