Hedgehog lurking

Daily Life, Swiss News and General Topics
1
I don't know if this is Daily life in Switzerland, but a first for me...

Last night, while walking the dog, we saw this guy crossing the road right in front of the apartment. I thought it might be a large rat with a missing tail, until I approached it. I was quite surprised that it didn't run away, and actually allowed me to get extremely close. His only real reaction was to "puff up" as I got within 2 ft. of it. Anyway, as they aren't native to North America, I enjoyed the novelty of seeing this semi-cute little animal.

2
if you see him again tell him to be very careful crossing the road. There are far too many flat hedge's around our way.

( we have a family of hedge's living under a Japanese Maple in our yard, but not so many snails. )

3
They are so cute aren't they?

We used to see one regularly near our old flat. The don't actually 'puff up' but curl into a ball when they feel threatened.

http://hedgehogcentral.com/euro.shtml

4
Gardeners friends - as they one of the few animals that prefer to eat slugs.

Used to have one in the garden of my old house - almost trod on it, once, in the dark, as their defence is to remain still in a ball bearing their prickles in all directions.

Unfortunately, they're not very adept (or quick) at crossing the road, and there are often warning signs to look out for them at the roadside.

5
Amusing how they are novelty for you.

I guess for me it would be seeing a racoon in the US or a wallaby/roo in Oz.

6
Our hedge's gobble up their fair share of slugs n snails but they also quite enjoy Little Caesar's* Dog food...chicken or veal, no beef please.

*no budget brands please

and... only slightly off topic... I was out cycling sunday morning and came upon a rather interesting sign, or signs.

the standard road slippery sign, immediately above a sign showing frogs

road slippery when froggy?

7
And also, never give hedgehogs milk, it upsets their tummies

8
..... and contrary to popular belief, it's not good to put out a saucer of (cows) milk, as it can cause their icle-wickle tummy to gurgle ..... and give them the squits.

9
do you suppose they would like a little Lactaid?

10

You're correct! I have seen my share of racoons, and the novelty wears off when they knock over your trashcans and spread it out all over the yard.

These little fellows seem harmless. My kiddo would have gotten a kick out of seeing "Sonic" live and in-person.

11
We’ve got between one and three hedgehogs that turn up more or less daily to enjoy supper, i.e. cat food, in our garden in order to accumulate as much fat as possible for their hibernation. They’re as messy as they’re cute!

12
My teenage son came across one in the bottom of the large plastic garbage bin that we keep in our garage one evening when emptying the bin. I don't know how the hedgehog got in there to begin with, or how he would have managed to get out, had we not found him.

My son came running into the house, screaming like a little girl, and refused to help me extract the hedgehog from the bin with a shovel in order to place him in the garden.

It was definitely a "losing your man card" moment; unfortunately he still hadn't earned it to begin with.

13
Bake them in clay, when done , pulling clay off pulls the spines/quills out. Nice with Chardonnay.

14
Don't know if it is the same species of hedgehogs as the ones here, but they are actually sold as "exotic" pets in the US.

They just don't seem that cuddly to me.

15
Very sad thread for me. When we first came back to our house I was sitting out in the garden and heard some ruckus. I was a bit freaked out. But I turned on the outside light low and there was the cutest little hedgehog!! The next day at the garden center I wanted to buy it a little house. Yes, they have hedgehog houses at the garden center! But the man said no to my idea.

A few days later I saw the little one dead on the side of the road. I feel very guilty I didn't give it a home.

Anyway, I've decided to "foster" a hedgehog at the animal sanctuary in La Vaud.

http://www.lagarenne.ch/soutenir_parrainage.shtml

They are actually very sweet little animals. I went to an educate center type thing in the US with little cousin where they basically take in pets when kids get tired of them and assign classes at the local school to take care of them for the school year. They have a hedge hog there. It was an African dwarf hedge hog.

16
Don't blame yourself, the poor little thing could have been killed whether or not you got it a 'house'.

Were you thinking of keeping it as a pet like a rabbit or guinea pig? I think despite it's untimely death, as a wild animal, that's where it should remain, in the wild.

Well done though on becoming a foster parent, I'm not sure about here, but in the UK, their numbers are falling, by 25% in 10 years.

If you still want a hedgehog home, you can even make one yourself..

http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/F...ehog_homes.htm

17
My father told me that, the army taught him

18
Or with some fava beans and a nice chianti...

oops, wrong thread...

19
I know. In fact he probably would have wanted to cross the street anyway. But I still feel bad. They get hit on the road all the time. Poor babies.

Thanks for the link!

20
And this news just in: "Martens seen performing Madonna karaoke songs in woodland clearing on the Uetliberg".

Next up, beavers, river peril or just looking good when stuffed .....?