The early lives of wild hoglets | Hedgehog's Hollow

[@Frostie3672]

For the first time ever last year 4 hoglets were born in one of the houses, was such a joy to see them growing up, also very stressful especially when a hoglet would leave the garden exploring & they were much smaller than the hoglets in this video. Sadly I think one perished as I was only ever to count 3 youngsters for the last week or so til mum had done her job & left. Two stuck around the garden & they always got on, often eating together in the feeding station but then I was just left with one, was really hoping one would chose to hibernate in the garden but the last one left in early December. He/she came back though in early January & headed straight for the hog house they had used before 6 the left & thru spent the rest of January hibernating in the house, occasionally waking up to eat them earlier this month (Feb) he/she left again & hasn't been back. While I await hedgehogs returning to the garden I have a cute little woodmouse who out there who likes to make use of the hog houses sometimes & is seen zipping in & out of the feeding station taking one kitten biscuit at a time.

[@dianestiner8602]

The same happened here in my garden. A mother arrived with 3hoglets in September 2021. They came together every night for cat food. One was very tiny 😔. Mid-November the mother disappeared. Only 2 babies came then and January 6-7. 2022 went hibernating, I believe. Hope to see them again in Springtime 🥰🥰🥰 Greetings from 🇨🇭

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hello to you in Switzerland! I am glad to hear of your hedgehog visits to your garden. It's great that you are enjoying hedgehogs visiting there, just as they are to our gardens in the UK

[@dianestiner8602]

@@HedgehogsHollow Hello MrHedgehog fan, at this time April 11 2022, I did not see any hoggie yet at my place. I don't know if they left for other places or if they are still hibernating because it is still very cold and wet over here. I a bit worried, I am waiting ...🥺

[@HedgehogsHollow]

@@dianestiner8602 Be patient - it has suddenly turned much colder, so it's possible they will return in the coming weeks.

[@markhodgson2348]

I have just installed a camera system in my garden and discovered ho much wildlife from mice to stotes and also Hedgehogs but a question is what do you feed them they seem to like the birds feed mixed grain and mealworms

[@nickkirton9579]

Beautiful!

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Thank you, nick, for your kind comment.

[@sharrongray1837]

Thank you so so much for this amazing lovely footage I don't understand why they leave there lovely cosy little houses I'm surprised they didn't stay there at hegehogs hollow also it's a shame they Neva got on after Henry diddapears for a week thsts a shame once again thank you for sharing Ur amazing footage with us f

[@iriswalls2947]

I’ve now named my hog house area “Hedgehog Mews”. I’ve now introduced a wooden feeding station, and my little pal had found its way in with no bother! Maybe because I left out deliciously smelling soft cat food!

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hedgehogs have a great sense of smell - they will find the food you leave out for sure! I hope you are getting more visitors to 'Hedgehog Mews'

[@tonyf68]

Great footage and commentary! 👍

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Thank you! 👍

[@iriswalls2947]

I really enjoy your videos. This is the first year I have “knowingly “ had a hog and cared for it, though I’ve had my suspicions in years gone by. I’ve provided a hog house (early September) so that my little pal can get to know it before hibernation. Keep up the good work.

[@HedgehogsHollow]

That is awesome! and thank you for your kind comments

[@caroldutoit7995]

Thanks Mike. Did Mommy ever come back

[@HedgehogsHollow]

No, mum never returned at all. But that is common behaviour for hedgehogs and the two hoglets were fortunately well set up to prepare for hibernation on their own

[@michelez8495]

Amazing footage! How do you know which is male or female? It's also very interesting to see how they become independent and just do their own thing as they grow up. Thank you!

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Thank you, Michelle, for your comment. I didn't explain in the video, but you can identify the gender of the hedgehogs only when they scratch themselves, and in the process expose their belly yo the camera. When that happens, the male genitals are clear to see, and the female has none visible. Distinguishing them from each other was purely through their natural markings, with halle the female having a dark patch between her eyes, and later on growing slightly larger than Henry. But after months of watching many hundreds and thousands of videos, they do become much more easily recognisable. It was amazing to watch them develop, and simply look after themselves very early on.

[@moyascott3376]

I've bought a hog house, when is the best time to put it out in my garden and how can i encourage a hog to use it?

[@HedgehogsHollow]

Hello Moya, That's absolutely brilliant that you have a house. You can put a hedgehog house out at any time of the year. Generally they will be specifically looking to find new homes just before hibernation and just after hibernation. But hedgehogs are also opportunists and in the course of their nightly exploration, they may find themselves a new, better location to sleep and simply move at any point in time - so put out your house and make it as welcoming as you can by also ensuring you provide some freely available nesting. You can put out a little straw or hay, and perhaps a small amount in the box too. I have videos on the channel that might be helpful - look for videos about setting up a hedgehog house where I describe how to prepare a new house and place it with hay inside and around. Also - look for videos here about attracting hedgehogs - there are a few very easy things you can do to welcome hedgehogs, like providing food and water and shelter and bedding

[@moyascott3376]

@@HedgehogsHollow thank you, i will do that. My male hog comes every night for his dish of food.