Hedgehogs in garden

[chef 123]

hello people, I am new to this forum, just need some help.

I am Keith, from the UK.

I have a new problem at home and hopefully some of you people may be able to advise me.


I recently keep getting Hedgehogs in my garden, now i have no problem with them except I have a English Springer Spaniel and 2 cats. My dog goes stupid around them, barking at them and scratching the grass / soil around them which is
A) is damaging my lawn
and
B) stupid.

I usually pick the little hedgehogs up with a spade and gently place them over my fence onto the field / grass behind me. But of course give them a minute and there back again, although i swear if you look and watch them they never move, only seem to move when you turn your back on them!

Could Hedgehogs cause any problem to my dog or cats or are they fine, I know you hear stories about them being covered in fleas etc ?

Just curious that's all as I dont know anything about Hedgehogs apart from they hurt if you touch them and they roll into a ball for safety I believe ?

They also weigh a lot when you put them on your spade to move them!

Main problem is my stupid dog running rings around the offending hedgehog and ripping my lawn up and I have mention this to my dog and I dont think he cares :(

Hope you can help

Thanks

keith (UK)

[Clownstrike]

Hi Keith,

You shouldn't have any concerns about the hedgehogs endangering your pets in any way. The dogs are much more likely to injure the hedgehog than the hedgehog is to injure the dogs or cats. The hedgehog quills are not dangerous in any way (different than a porcupine). Yes, they can roll into a ball for defense, but do not really have any 'weapons'. The pointy ball is intended to discourage attacks by predators.

Like any wild mammal, they can harbor any number of pests like fleas. But it's very unlikely they would expose your pets to anything the pets are not already exposed to in your area.

In case you didn't know, the hedgehog is a natural form of insect control for your garden. They feast on slugs, worms, beetles and other insects. Many gardeners in the UK go through extra effort to attract hedgehogs to their gardens.

By the way, the hedgehogs discussed on this site as pets are descendant from African, rather than European, hedgehogs. They are about half the size of your garden hedgehogs. But the two are very closely related species.

Regards,
Tim

[Pringlesmom]

I agree. Hedgehogs will not cause your dogs any harm more than a prick to the nose if they got too close.