[rara-avis21]

So, i know this forum is really for African pygmy hedgies but prior to being able to get one i am on here stocking up info

In the meantime i have an adorable European hedgie called Horatio who has been with me for about a week and a half now, he was attacked by dogs as he doesn't curl into a ball properly and isn't really scared of much (in comparison to many hedgies) he is very tame and he sits on my feet when he eats his dinner.

My query - if anyone should know (have looked on google and European hedgie sites but to no avail)

Since he arrived I have had an increase in hedgies visiting - my garden is fenced but there are gaps in a few areas so they can come and go despite having a little cabin made for him if he wants to use it, my garden is somewhat of a sanctuary for them they have tonnes of hedgie happy areas and get fed every day.
Well he arrived home the Sunday over a week ago and then on the Wednesday i had 3 more, now i have 6 hedgies altogether - is this a food thing being put out (despite in the past no hedgies coming) or is this him being in the garden and attracting them due to the scent?

They are all wonderful and most have names i have a tiny baby called Bluebell, about the size of my palm who Horatio nudged into his house and she pops out for tea every night now.
I sit outside whilst they have dinner - they are normally all waiting by the saucer and water dish at a certain time, and whilst i sit down Horatio will be sitting on my foot eating and the rest of them will be munching away very close to me, they will nudge my feet and give me a sniff and lick now and then so they are getting used to me, though shy and can protect themselves unlike my little Horatio.

I just find it so bizarre as apparently this isn't common behaviour - i am fully aware they visit upto 12 gardens or so but they are coming back every evening and don't seem to leave the garden unless it rains as in the day i have found them running around or in the garden lurking.

If anyone knows or has any ideas that would be wonderful! But i appreciate i am not really in the right place to ask

 

[Lilysmommy]

We do have some UK members on here that may be able to give a more informed opinion. My guess from working with US wildlife though is that perhaps they followed the little guy's scent to your place, then realized there was food & hung around. Where one goes, the others follow kind of thing.

 

[Katten]

If you are leaving food for them, make sure you give them hedgie-friendly foods. My teacher is from Sweden, and she told me that she used to feed them milk and bread until she found out how bad that is for them.

 

[Draenog]

Hedgehogs are solitary animals so it is most likely food related. They might have been there (or passing through) before but never stayed long because your garden wasn't very interesting, and now it is. It is common for them to come back or stay in the area if there's food at least in my experience.

 

[rara-avis21]

thanks everyone for your replies.

i probably should have mentioned more info such as this is my 27th rescue hedgie and i am very aware of how to care for them but i have never experienced this behaviour or happening before which is why i asked, i have lived at this house for 4 years altogether and have never once witnessed a hedgie or the food being eaten which i have always left out, the garden has always been very hedgie friendly but it makes sense that it is more so now Horatio lives here and such, i have never had this before when i have taken in hedgies before so it is quite the experience really!

Horatio and Heidi rarely go anywhere without each other and always are waiting side by side by the food dishes bang on the dot for dinner so again, having this close relationship between the two is new to me as none of the past rescue hedgies have shown this behaviour.
Horatio came from over 50 miles away so it is not likely at all that they are known to each other but regardless, very happy with the bond.

There are passing hedgies which live around the few neighbouring gardens which is the mother and the 2 babies and also a very very timid, pretty beaten up hedgie who now occupies the leaves pile by my shed day and night and hasn't left that i have witnessed.

I also am out in the garden for several hours and have a view to them at all times so i am pretty aware of who is who and which are coming round for dinner, like i said all just a new experience through my years of caring for rescue hedgies, i have taken in a lot in the past aswell as bats and so forth so quite used to their needs and such.

Thanks again,

 

[gracefulchaos01]

I have no idea. But this is a wonderful story and made me smile a lot. Thanks!

 

[Melanie G.]

This makes me want to move to the UK so I can have hedgies roaming around in my garden!

 

[ellisrks01]

:???:I have to admit, I started getting jellous about halfway threw your post. I wish I had hedgehogs in my garden!!

 

[rara-avis21]

aww thanks everyone for the messages! it is lovely and really quite special, i know i am lucky as their behaviour isn't really that normal so i cherish it and the hedgies i take in and release