"A Diary of a Homeschool Journey and the things that happen around the edges"
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Friday, June 13, 2008
A visitor on a cloudy day
The kids found this little one wandering at the bottom of the garden. I hope that it was just the overcast day and not illness that brought it out into the daylight. It looked like it was born this year.
Opps, yes it is a hedgehog. They were introduced here by the English settlers and have now found their way into most gardens. I haven't worked out if they hibernate down here or not as once we get past the Autumn frosts we don't get snow.
As far as I know they are pest (Slug and snail) control on legs so they only help keep down the insect population.
It's fairly rare even here to see a live one simply because they are fairly shy and nocturnal. Sometimes you hear them rustling about, and snuffling. I han't realized this one was living about the section.
They have a reputation for having ringworm etc and so we get warned as kids not to handle them - admittedly that's one of those things form my childhood that I have never challenged or investigated. Then again being prickly I haven't wanted to pick one up.
Is it a hedgehog? I will have to show the photo to my kids.
ReplyDeleteOpps, yes it is a hedgehog. They were introduced here by the English settlers and have now found their way into most gardens. I haven't worked out if they hibernate down here or not as once we get past the Autumn frosts we don't get snow.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! I've never seen a hedgehog in real life. Do they do damage to the yard and garden? Cute little tyke!
ReplyDeleteJean in Wisconsin
Hi Jean,
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know they are pest (Slug and snail) control on legs so they only help keep down the insect population.
It's fairly rare even here to see a live one simply because they are fairly shy and nocturnal. Sometimes you hear them rustling about, and snuffling. I han't realized this one was living about the section.
They have a reputation for having ringworm etc and so we get warned as kids not to handle them - admittedly that's one of those things form my childhood that I have never challenged or investigated. Then again being prickly I haven't wanted to pick one up.