Hedgehogs

[SueA]

Aww, hope it's O.K. grindle it might have been bumped & have internal injuries or have parasites, glad that you saved it, I bet lots of hedgehogs have died in the heatwave.

[Cherry]

I hope it can be saved.

[grindle]

unfortunately it didn't survive its injuries, but at least I tried

[SueA]

That's a shame isn't it, poor little thing.

[Cherry]

Poor little hedgehog. Yes, you tried.

[Eli]

Earlier on tonight I went down the garden to call Bella in and my foot knocked against something that felt odd, and it was a big hedgehog. It curled up into a ball. I don't know how it got into the garden because it is enclosed.
Bella was not in sight so after half an hour I went to call her again, making sure I didn't kick the hedgehog this time, but it had gone ...
and when I came in I found that Bella was fast asleep in the living room all the time ! How I hadn't seen her I don't know ...
I was glad to see the hedgehog though, I haven't seen one for a long time  

[Eli]

I saw the above hedgehog again at 3 A.M. this morning when I let Bella out, he/she was on the patio and I don't think liked the patio light I turned on.
I'm wondering if I should give him some cat food, or will that attract rats. I don't want rats, there's enough of them in the hedgerows and fields, I hear them screeching every night, and I'm afraid they might come into the house.
Also if I start feeding the hedgehog I'm wondering if I'd have to do it for ever. 

[SueA]

I used to put hedgehog food out every night Eli & we had several coming regularly but I stopped after we spotted rats in the gardens in our row earlier this year, 2 of the neighbours put rat poison down & we haven't seen any for months. We still have a fox visiting occasionally & a hedgehog has been calling this week, I nearly bumped into him last night, I'd been out looking at the Space Station going past & the stars & was walking back to the side door as he was arriving! There are plenty of slugs & snails etc. here so that must be what's attracting him as the hedgehogs want to fatten up ready for hibernation, I am tempted to put some food down but don't want rats appearing again. I don't think the rats would try to get in your house Eli especially with Bella being in residence & the hedgehogs would find alternative food if you stopped, I just lessened the food over a few nights when I had to stop.