Calling all hedgehog experts ......

[Sadie]

I need a little advice. Something has been disturbing my container pots periodically over the last few weeks and a kind lady on another website suggested this could be the work of a hedgehog.

I recently repotted two shrubs into larger containers with multipurpose compost and slow release plant food. Unfortunately something has been digging in the pots and yesterday the pot was practically empty with compost all around and the plant was outside of the pot laying on the floor.

The container in question is 9inches high and made of terracotta, is it possible for a hedgehog to be doing this?? I suspected that it was a squirrel but am not at all sure. The containers are never tipped over, they are in a small level patio area but I could do with finding out which animal is the culprit so I know what appropriate action to take.

If anyone has any ideas, I'd be grateful to hear from you

[southcalihedgie]

I have a cool tip/ trick to find out which critters are disturbing your potted plants. And all you need is a paper bag or newspaper and flour. Take your paper and sprinkle a nice even layer of flour on the paper, use a ruler to make the flour surface is as even and level as possible. The flour does not have to be very deep, just deep enough to for you to be able to leave a nice finger print in. Then you take your potted plant and place it on the flour covered paper preferably in the center. Wait overnight then check the paper in the morning. You should be able to find some good clear prints to compare against hh, squirel, cat, mouse, rat or racoon prints. The coolest part about this tech. is that it does not harm or stress the animal and the materials are resable for more tests, and the clean up is easy.

Lets us know what you find out!

[Jeanette]

Do you live in the UK?? That's the only way I could imagine a wild hh.