We were surprised to spot this Hedgehog standing on his back legs drinking copiously from Jazz’s outdoor water bowl as we prepared some lunch today.
After three very cold days I am surprised to see a hedgehog out and about as they do tend to hibernate through the winter months.
Perhaps the weather has not been consistently cold enough to send him or her off to a cosy bed in the garden.
Or perhaps this was the last big drink of water needed before heading to a winter nest.
ordinarygoodness 
Amazing photo!
Thanks Cindy. I was sure the wee critter would be startled by me opening the sliding door but thankfully all was well. I did not dare try and get any closer. He/she was Thirsty!!
I haven’t seen a hedgehog in years. Do they come around a lot.
Thanks for commenting. We do see them around quite a bit, although being nocturnal by preference we hear them snuffling around in the garden and see evidence of them visiting more than day time sightings. Sadly plenty get killed crossing roads. They are great little critters to have in the garden in terms of reducing slugs and snails.
Hi there, I am thinking your garden visitor may have mange as being out during the day is a sign of sickness, drinking lots of water is a sign of mange, he/she will be dehydrated and will need looking after.
Thanks
Jacqui
Thanks Jacqui. I’ve been out in the garden but I cannot find the hedgehog. If it returns to drink again can you tell me where to take it for treatment and/or what sort of treatment it needs please?
Your friend Liz is going to give you my number so you can call me when you find it, I will come out and check it over, if healthy it can go free, if not I can take it and look after it until it is well.
Thanks
Jacqui
I have your phone number and I will ring you if I find it. Thank you for your kindness. I have learnt a lot about hedgehogs today.
That’s a wonderful photo, but I agree with Jacqui that your hedgehog must be unwell to be out and about during the day. If you leave water out for it that could be helpful – as long as Jazz doesn’t drink it first.
You are absolutely correct Ruth about the hedgehog being unwell. I have popped a terracotta saucer of water next to Jazz’s outdoor water bowl and I will keep my eyes open for the hedgehog. I have a number to ring if I can catch it and the woman will come and check it out. She will treat and care for it if need be. I have looked around the garden but we have a lot of places a hedgehog could hide in that I cannot search. An ideal garden for healthy hedgehogs. I have learnt a lot about hedgehogs this afternoon. The positive power of blogging:-))
She looks so sweet, but as others have said, probably not well. It’s a nice photo.
The wee animal did look so cute balancing on the bowl. I had to angle around the sliding door so as not to scare it when I took the photo. I will try and tempt it back tomorrow with some of Jazz’s cat food. A local woman cares for sick hedgehogs and she is happy to come and check it over if I can capture it.
P.S thanks for the ‘like’ on my Books page on Facebook!
You are most welcome Juliet.
Lovely! I bet Jazz was surprised to see him!
Hi Jo. It did look cute. Jazz was sound asleep in his banana box bed in the warm lounge in the sunshine!!Jazz is definitely in winter mode:-) It has been very cold these past three days. Tomorrow is promising to be a bit warmer.
One of the wonders of the blogging world – people all over the world are concerned about the health of a wild hedgehog. I do hope he’s not seriously ill and that a bit of a rest helps him.
I was thinking that too……I will put out some tinned cat food tomorrow in the hope of luring the wee creature out. There is a local woman who will care for it if it is ill. That is impressive.
Oh, man, that is so cute!! There’s something about hedgehogs I find really appealing – maybe it’s their cute little button eyes, or the little sort of upturned nose – or maybe it’s just that they like fossicking in my cats’ bowls once the cats have finished, LOL! Hope you manage to find him/her so that any sickness can be treated. I didn’t realise that being out in the daytime was a sign with them that all is not well, so I’ve also learned something about hedgehogs today :))
Thanks! I often hear them snuffling about in the garden during summer and encourage them to forage for slugs and snails! It seems that there are many “Hedgehog Rescue” folks about the place who will care for sick or injured “hogs.” That seems an immensely generous thing to be doing.
Yes, there seem to be a number of such folk – I have a friend in Taupo who runs a “Hedgehog Haven”, and I love getting her Christmas newsletters with news of how it’s been going through the year. Whenever I see one I think of the Bogor cartoons, which I love, so good on you for coming to the rescue!
Ah ah!! Jacqui mentioned a woman in Taupo doing this work and it was through the Taupo carer that she became involved. Small world!
That is a very cute photo. The hedgehogs seem to find cat food irresistible so you may get lucky.
It was a cute pose to capture. No sign of the wee “hog” yet but the cat food is sitting waiting and Jazz is sound asleep inside in the sun filled lounge – it was a frosty morning here today.
Frosty here too. I expect most of the little hogs around here are well into hibernation by now.
Well the wee hog came back for lunch today and is now safely in the care of the Hedgehog Rescue lady named Jacqui ( she has posted comments on this post). It did have mange so desperately needed her knowledge and skills. Hedgehogs should all be tucked up during the day she said. Frost here too today so no wonder it was a lunch time caller again.
This is wonderful that it has been rescued.
You are correct. I think the people who rescue and do the treating and caring are wonderful people. More on the hedgehog in the next post.
Morning….Any sign of your little hog yet???
It will more then likely have mange as said before but could have other problems, once treated it will stay with me until spring where it will then be set free up in Te Horo.
Mange hogs lose all/most.some of their quills depending on how bad the mange is.
If left it may not survive.
I currently have 4 hogs in care, 2 had mange, 1 was a baby and I have little Chong whom has been up and down for 5 months, all four will hopefully be set free in spring.
Jacqui
No sign yet I’m afraid. The cat food is positioned by the water bowl and water filled saucer and I am keeping my eyes open. I am ready to capture the wee one and call you if it comes along.
You obviously do amazing work keeping hedgehogs healthy…..that is immensely kind and honourable work.
Your little one has been oiled, fed and is now safe and warm in the cage, I will give him/her the advocate in the morning.
He/she was a good weight at 779gr.
Not sure of what sex it is yet but when I know you can name it.
This is good news Jacqui. No need for a trip to the vet at this stage.
You do great work…thank you again.
The little fella is doing fine, he loves the heatdisc I put in his/her bed at night, I still haven’t got a good look at it as it won’t let me yet.
The mange crusts are starting to flake off and it is starting to lose a few quills, so all is ok so far.
Thanks for the update Jacqui and for the care you are giving the wee one – a modest wee one so far!
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Little one is doing well, I had a quick look and I think we have a boy, will have another peak in a few days.
We will have to give the little guy a name now.
What would you like to call it???
His eyes can be seen now as the crusts are coming off, he is getting some vitamins to help him through and keep him healthy so all is going well.
He still loves the heatdisc and lies spread out on top of it.
Hi Jacqui. Thanks for the update. It is great to know the wee one is doing well under your care. You do great work. I really like that the heat disc is such a hit! Wise wee animal.
If it is a boy I would like him named Tsini – it is Hausa (African people) and means Spike!
If he actually is a she then I would name her Isra which is Algerian and means “journeying by night.”
What good news about his/her eyes being clearer. That mange is an awful thing for the hogs.
Thanks again for all your work.
I got a proper look this morning and she is a girl, Isra is her new name. She is doing fine and loving the heat disc.
Great news and many thanks to you Jacqui!
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I have taken some photo’s of Isra, do you have an e-mail address so I can send them to you.
Thanks Jacqui. It will be good to see Isra. Lots of my blog readers are delighted that she is doing so well in your care. My email address is: qdeckchapman at clear dot net dot nz I have to put it like this here to prevent hackers.
I have sent the pic’s, will send more when she has lost more Quills.
Thanks Jacqui. She is looking so much better around her eyes already.
Miss Isra is doing well, her crusting and quills are all starting to fall out/off, she is no longer on the heat disc, she is plenty warm as she sleeps outstretched.
All mange has been killed , now for the healing which can take a wee while.
Thanks for the update Jacqui. She is doing really well under your care. Thank you!
I was looking at Isra yesterday afternoon thinking she looks weird and then I realised she has lost all the fur on her face.
She had her second dose of the advocate yesterday, that’s just to make sure we have got all the mites even though I know they are all dead.
Thanks for the update Jacqui. I’m glad “weird looking” turned out to be fur loss and nothing serious.
Isra is in the best place in this cold weather thanks to you.
I think she is loving all the free food and warmth, she is a little ratbag though as she puts her bottom to the edge of the cage and poops through the wire.
I imagine she is enjoying the comforts of home. No messing her nest it would seem!
lol she still mess’s in her bed.
Isra is doing really well, she is weighing in at over a kilo, she is back on the heat disc as she was wanting to hibernate but needs to be kept from doing so as that will prolong her quills from growing and she would have to end up staying longer.
She will be ready to go free in the spring.
Thanks for the positive news of Isra Jacqui:-)
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A post of a very relaxed Isra.
Just a quick note to let you know Isra was set free last Thursday and she has gone off on her merry way.
Jacqui
Oh wow. I was wondering if she had been released. Did you get any photos of the release please?
Thank you for all you did for Isra. We all wish a happy life for her now.
Do you have an e-mail that I can send some photo’s to you.
Jacqui
Thanks Jacqui. My email is:qdeckchapmanatcleardotnetdotnz
It would be great to see some photos.