Birth
Hoglets are born with no spikes. The spikes will usually appear within hours of being born and they are white in colour. The hoglet has no fur and its eyes and ears are closed.
One Week Old
Weighs about 28-56 grams and they are 2-4 inches in length. Thes tiny hoglets have no teeth and eyes and ears are still closed.
Two Weeks Old
Weighs about 56-85 grams and are 3-5 inches in length. Eyes will most likely still be closed but could open soon. Earholes begin to appear.
Three Weeks Old
Weighs about 85-113 grams. Eyes are now fully open and teeth begin to appear. They are still not fully weaned.
Four Weeks Old
Weighs about 113-170 grams. Now looks like a mini-adult hedgehog. And would now accompany mum on foraging trips.
Five Weeks Old
Weighs about 190-225 grams. Still not fully weaned.
Six to Seven Weeks Old
Weighs about 225-310 grams.
Eight Weeks Old
Weighs about 350 grams. Should now be fully weaned and would be totally independent of mum.
N.B.
The foraging weights, ages and amounts are approximate and are only meant as a guide. Like all young mammals, each hoglets development will vary from one to another hoglet.
Hedgehogs are naturally shy little mammals and will curl into a ball at the slightest noise, however, they are also very inquisitive and manage to find themselves in all sorts of predicaments and difficulties. Below are listed some of the common hazards:
Pesticides/Herbicides
The use of harmful pesticides and herbicides not only poison hedgehogs but has a detrimental effect on all of our wildlife. It is very distressing seeing any animal that has been poisoned and quite often it is to late to save them. It is fortunate that there are many organic pest controls on the market that don’t carry the substance that causes harm.
Slug Pellets
Slug pellets are a great danger to hedgehogs, they are poisonous, they digest them from a slug that has eaten the pellet or from eating them from the ground as they forage for food. There many alternative ways to control slugs in your garden.
Garden Netting
A wildlife friendly garden is beneficial as hedgehogs enjoy sleeping under log piles, in long grass and under big shrubs. Hedgehogs suffer the most horrific injuries from garden netting and goal post netting that has been left in the garden. They are unable to break free due to the position of their spines and as they struggle to free themselves the netting becomes so tight and tangled that it breaks into the skin like a tourniquet. Just lift the netting off the ground.
Ponds and Swimming Pools
Hedgehogs are reasonably good swimmers but they often fall into ponds and swimming pools where there is no escape. Place a wooden ramp or a few rocks in the pond so that if a hedgehog falls into a pond it can easily get out.And keep swimming pools covered when not in use.
Anti-Freeze
This is very harmful to hedgehogs, either as a result of them drinking or licking from the road or by licking their feet if they have walked through it.
Strimmers
If you really have to use a strimmer please check the area beforehand. We have had some awful cases of strimmer injuries.
Compost bins/heaps
Hedgehogs have been known to hibernate in compost bins and during the summer months may well choose the compost heap as an ideal place to have her hoglets. Please be very careful when emptying or turning compost bins and heaps.
Rubbish
Hedgehogs can get into difficulty by becoming trapped in cans, in handles of plastic bags and in cardboard cartons. They have been known to nest and raise their young in rubbish bags and even watering cans! Please check any rubbish bags or containers that have been lying around before throwing them away.
Walls and Fences
Hedgehogs travel from garden to garden; if possible please create a hedgehog highway by making a small hole about 12cm under your fences to make this easier for them. Never try and keep a wild hedgehog in an enclosed garden as they will quickly become stressed and their natural instinct is to travel.
Hedgehogs will often use a variety of different places to build a nest, under a garden shed or even in a compost heap. Please be careful when gardening turning over piles of leaves or lighting fires, there maybe a hog resident underneath, so always check first.
You can also support them by:
Purchasing a hedgehog nesting box or even building one putting a log pile in your garden that a hedgehog can get under. Leave the leaves that fall in the autumn on the ground the hedgehog will use them to build a nest. Also if possible leave a gap of at least 5 inches under your garden shed.
The Hedgehog is out During the Day
Hedgehogs are nocturnal only appearing from the nest at dusk to forage for food returning to the nest at dawn to sleep. You would normally only see hogs out in the daytime if there is a problem. They do not sunbathe. Should you come across a hedgehog during the day Please contact us at Help For Hogs for advice.Also please do NOT keep a hedgehog yourself contact the rescue as soon as you find it
The Hedgehog is Wobbling in the Middle of your Garden
A wobbling hedgehog (unless it is a very small hoglet) is usually a sign that it is dehydrated and requires fluid warmth and care. Please call us if you find a hog that is wobbling.
A Hedgehog Caught in Netting
Please pick it up and put into a box, don’t attempt to remove netting from the hog, and contact us.
Road Traffic Casualty
Hedgehogs are often found in the road injured or killed. They can suffer a variety of injuries and will require emergency first aid.
A Leg Appears Damaged or the Legs are Dragging Along
A leg appears damaged or it is dragging both legs. There can be a number of reasons for this ranging from fractures to the legs or a fracture to the spine or spinal cord damage.
A Hedgehog Appears to be Fitting
The main cause of this symptom is a head injury or the hog has eaten a poisonous substance like slug pellets.
Small White Bits on the Hedgehog
For those of you not familiar with fly eggs they look like minute clusters of white bits. These hedgehogs require urgent attention as the eggs will need to be removed before they hatch into maggots.
An Adult Hedgehog that is Squealing
This is a hedgehog that is in severe pain and needs urgent treatment.
Orphans (Hoglets)
You may come across a hoglet that is crying, a high pitched peep, peep, peep sound can be heard from a hoglet as young as two to three weeks of age and is crying for mum. These little ones need urgent rescue and specialised care. Do not attempt to give it food or water or try and care for it yourself. Without the right care they can die within hours. They need to be placed in a box with a hot water bottle (not boiling water) placed on the bottom of a box. Wrap the hoglet in a towel or similar and place on the hot water bottle. Contact us.
Orphans in the nest
Never be tempted to pick up a hoglet from the nest as the mother may kill it or abandon the nest in fear. Watch the nest closely for a couple of hours to see if she returns. If there is no sign of mum after a couple of hours and the babies are making peeping noises, wear gloves place the entire nest into a cardboard box and phone us. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REAR A HEDGEHOG YOURSELF THEY REQUIRE EXPERT CARE CONTACT YOUR NEAREST RESCUE ASAP. DO NOT LEAVE FOR DAYS BEFORE CONTACTING ANYONE.
January
Many hedgehogs are now deep in hibernation and will only leave their hibernacula if they are disturbed.
February
Hedgehogs remain in hibernation but their fat reserves are becoming low.
March
During mild weather some hedgehogs may wake up.
April
The majority of hedgehogs are now out of hibernation and are busy building up their body fat to prepare for the breeding season.
May
Mating happens during this month.
June
Some hoglets are born but they are too young to leave the nest, their mother will go out and forage and feed returning to the nest to feed her hoglets.
July
Mum and hoglets will leave the nest together to go on foraging trips.
August
The hoglets become independant of their mother and are often vulnerable to predator attacks.
September
Some females produce a second litter.
October
Adult hedgehogs are busy feeding and constructing hibernaculas in preparation for hibernation.
November
Many adult hedgehogs are now in hibernation.
December
Hibernation.