Thursday, 10 October 2019

A Welcome visitor.



It's still pitch black when I get up in the mornings, so I have to rely on Billy to let me know if any creatures are around outside.

Yesterday morning he let out a couple of very quiet barks, so I went back indoors and fetched both my torch, and my camera.

This was the first fully grown Hedgehog I've seen for years. He (or she) was rolled into a ball, and didn't move. I expect Billy frightened him. I don't suppose he liked my camera flash either.

I consider it a sign that Mother Nature is doing a good job, when I see Hedgehogs; all is well in the countryside.



33 comments:

Susan Heather said...

I haven't seen a hedgehog for years. I suppose they are not as plentiful in the town.

New World said...

I saw my first ever red squirrel this week.

Cro Magnon said...

We hardly ever see them these days, which is why I was so pleased that Billy found this one.

Cro Magnon said...

We only have red ones here; no greys.

cumbrian said...

good to see these little fellows, we have a few but sadly nothing like the numbers from years gone by.

But we do have a thriving population of red squirrels.

Gwil W said...

We have reds and blacks. No greys. Haven't seen a live hedgehog for a long time. I think they've all been pancaked trying to cross the roads.

Cro Magnon said...

Our Red Squirrels tend to be very dark; almost black. I've also seen several jet black male Pheasants around.

Cro Magnon said...

They seem to be in decline here. Maybe they are just better at camouflage.

Yael said...

Here is a new generation of small hedgehogs coming every evening to eat the food the cats have left.

Cro Magnon said...

They always say that if you wish to attract Hedgehogs, you should put out cat food. It sounds like you're doing just that.

Poppypatchwork said...

We get hedgehogs in our garden, there are 2 spots where sometimes they sleep the day away. We love them.

Anonymous said...

Good to see, although I have never seen one. We don't really have an equivalent here, although our Echidna does burrow down into the ground.

Cro Magnon said...

I think ours probably live beneath our wood pile, my wife once picked one up by mistake. Lovely creatures.

Cro Magnon said...

Hedgehogs don't burrow; in the winter they hibernate beneath piles of leaves, logs, etc.

the veg artist said...

We had one baby hedgehog in the garden a few years ago, but not seen one since. We're on the edge of woodland, so plenty of places for them to hide.

JayCee said...

We don't see as many hedgehogs here as we used to, apart from too many flat ones on the roads.

Cro Magnon said...

We found an abandoned baby a couple of years ago. We fed it regularly, but it eventually died. Quite upsetting.

Cro Magnon said...

I suppose that even that is a sign that there are still plenty around; as sad as it is.

local alien said...

I wish we had more hedgehogs. THe only ones I've seen here are dead ones on the road. It does prove that they are around, at least.
Yesterdays photo of Lady M and Booboo was delightful. Reminded me of Winnie the Pooh with Piglet hanging on to his big paw.

Gwil W said...

I saw a woman with a hedgehog on her head. They'd make a great toilet brush I've always thought.

Cro Magnon said...

We find a lot of wildlife dead on the roads, everything from Deer to Badgers etc. It's very wooded here, so plenty of animals around.

Cro Magnon said...

Sounds like Arthur Scargill. I'm sure he wore one!

Lettice said...

Ellie on our walk the other evening found a hedgehog in the Ludlow College grounds which is just two doors down from us. To say I was happy was the understatement! We live in a very quiet part of town, the countryside living cheek by jowl with the ‘great’ metropolis that is Ludlow. So the sighting of a hedgehog was a great milestone.

LX

Cro Magnon said...

My people's place in N Shropshire was filled with Hedgehogs and Pheasants. I think they like it there.

The Weaver of Grass said...

We see some hedgehogs here but nothing like as many as we used to see sadly.

Sue said...

We have seen one in our garden here recently but I don't ever recall seeing one in France.

angryparsnip said...

I would love to see a Hedgehog your are so lucky. I love Billy's small bark what a good boy. Will you put out some cat food in winter ?
parsnip

Joanne Noragon said...

When I used to be out in the wee hours, I stood a good chance of encountering a skunk. All that stood between them and me was my sense of smell.

Cro Magnon said...

I'm sure their numbers are in decline. Sad.

Cro Magnon said...

We once (a long time ago) returned home quite late, and saw about 10 of them all together on the lawn. It was if they were holding a meeting! I doubt if we'll ever see that again.

Cro Magnon said...

Yes, his very quiet barks were quite amusing; almost as if he didn't want to upset the Hedgehog. We don't put food out for them, I think they should be hibernating anyway.

Cro Magnon said...

I've always wanted to smell a skunk. It is spoken about so often, that I would like to know if it's true!

Joanne Noragon said...

It is true, every word. It will knock you down. It is not removable; it lasts days, weeks.

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