Slugs for Dinner?

It's a bit of a misconception that hedgehogs eat lots of slugs. They are often called 'the gardeners friend' for this very reason, but actually they don't eat slugs very often. Well would you want to eat something so slimy and rubbery?

Certainly I've never seen a hedgehog show any more interest in a slug than Big Bob does in this clip.



And judging from the slug invasion in my garden this year there wasn't a lot of munching going on apart from by the slugs themselves!

Information from the excellent Wildlifeonline website suggests only 27% of the hedgehogs studied diet was slugs. Caterpillars, beetles, earwigs and earthworms were much more popular.

So hedgehogs are still 'the gardeners friend' eating some garden pests even if they're not eating many slugs as they've long been famed for.

Hiccuping Hedgehog!?

Looks like Hoggle here has the hiccups after scoffing his food!
I'm not surprised, the does everything at top speed!

Hog and Frog!

Hedgehogs do eat frogs if they can catch them, but it's not easy, they're slippery and can hop out of harms way!



Talking of amphibians, while going through the summer footage I also discovered I have toads in the garden too!
Brilliant!

I Ain't Afraid of No Cat!

I love seeing the action of a hog raising it's spines, this clip is a good one!

Big Bob The Bully

I've been going through video footage of what the hedgehogs have been up to this summer as I hadn't had time till now and I've found that Bob has been a naughty hog bullying Hoggle!

Round 1




Round 2




Round 3



Maybe that's why Pog and Hoggle stopped visiting. Naughty Big Bob!

I've been a busy hedgehog!

After giving my hedgehog talk this morning at St Peters Church, Rugby we went to get some dinner at Whilton Locks Garden Village.

Here I am buying some supplies to fatten me up for winter.



The staff we're all very helpful!



Whilton Locks is the only place I have found locally that stocks Spike's hedgehog food. They have the whole range too!
My friend Oggy likes the semi-moist best so I'm buying a big bag for us to share.

When I got home I installed a brand new hedgehog house made by my friend Frank.
I'm hoping Oggy will want to hibernate in it.
Doesn't it look good?



In fact it looks so cosy I think I might try it out myself right now for a nap!

Hedgehog Talk

This Saturday 12th Nov I'm dressing up as a hedgehog and doing a short hedgehog/wildlife talk at St John's Church in Rugby. from 11 to 12.

I'll be bringing along some hedgehog poop for disection as well as some videos of my hedghogs.

There will also be making of bug boxes and I'll be bringing some bird boxes made by local carpenter and hedgehog Doors for sale!