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Author Topic: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......  (Read 3300 times)

johnw

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #15 on: June 04, 2010, 09:37:41 PM »
On the topic of cute check this out...



johnw
John in coastal Nova Scotia

Peter Maguire

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #16 on: June 05, 2010, 10:13:33 AM »
Quote
I would love to have a hedgehog in my garden.

They may be there though. I've never seen a hedgehog in our garden, but the droppings are there on many mornings; slimy black objects about 2-3cms by 0.5cms.
I even don't mind stepping in them as they contain the remains of many of our garden snails.   :D
Peter Maguire
Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.

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Peter Maguire

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #17 on: June 05, 2010, 01:13:40 PM »
Co-incidentally (honest!) my wife has just come in and pointed out that we have a hedgehog on the front lawn. Here he/she is:

Peter Maguire
Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.

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Maggi Young

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #18 on: June 05, 2010, 02:21:16 PM »
Check it out carefully, Peter.... it shouldn't be out at middday and may be ill. Looks a bit drowsy, so perhaps it was just disturbed from its daytime sleep and forced to move or it may have ingested slugpellets/poisoned slugs and be poorly......if we find them out in the middle of the day it usually turns out they are sick or suffering a too heavy pest (flea/tick) infestation.
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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Peter Maguire

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #19 on: June 05, 2010, 03:04:26 PM »
Yes I thought it was probably sick, the eye does look a little dull. It's wandered off into the back of the border now where I dump the grass clippings so it's hopefully asleep somewhere there.
Of course this is Newcastle, famous as a party city, so it could just be disorientated after a night out "on the toon" as they say locally.  8)
Peter Maguire
Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.

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Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #20 on: June 06, 2010, 04:39:09 AM »
If we find daytime hedgehogs they are often looking for water and if I put out a low bowlful, they'll go straight for it.

I think it would be OK to come back as a sloth. Quite suit me in fact. Eat, sleep, the occasional scratch..... :D You know of course, that in the wild sloths move so slowly that green algae grow on their fur.
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

PDJ

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #21 on: June 06, 2010, 03:18:28 PM »
On the subject of hedgehog safety many hedgehogs are killed every year by falling into ponds.  Hedgehogs are excellent swimmers I have seen them swim the canal many times but in ponds there is often no way for them to climb out.  A piece of log or plank placed in the pool and resting on the edge gives them an escape route.  Worth bearing in mind if you have a pool and also want hedgehogs eating your slugs.
Paul




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Maggi Young

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #22 on: June 06, 2010, 03:29:07 PM »
That's a very good point, Paul.
Our pond has an overhang of edging so it would be a nightmare for the spiky chums to get out of so we have a piece of semi-rigid plastic mesh well anchored to the ground and draping over into the water to allow any swimmers to make a safe and comfortable exit from the water.
Nowadays we hardly need this because of the ivy overhanging the edge and down into the water nearly all round the pond and the baby froglets use that to climb out but we still have the mesh for the hedgehogs.
Margaret Young in Aberdeen, North East Scotland Zone 7 -ish!

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angie

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #23 on: June 07, 2010, 01:34:19 PM »
Well I am glad someone has brought this up. I would long to have a hedgehog in my garden so think how I would feel to see a hedgehog in my pond :'(... away out to make sure they have a escape route.

My pond.
Angie T.
....just outside Aberdeen in North East Scotland

Ragged Robin

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #24 on: June 07, 2010, 04:02:57 PM »
Angie, at last we have seen your true colours in your super garden  :D  You are always admiring other people's efforts so now it is great to be able to see yours....lovely landscaping and trees and shrubs and just a fab pond and water garden; it must be full of wildlife if you sat in it at night in the moonlight and then I bet you would see a hedgehog or two - you just need a little sloping ramp 8)
Valais, Switzerland - 1,200 metres - Continental climate - rocks and moraine

Peter Maguire

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #25 on: June 07, 2010, 04:58:17 PM »
That looks to be a fabulous garden Angie - why have you kept it a secret for so long?
Peter Maguire
Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.

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Graham Catlow

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #26 on: June 07, 2010, 05:16:35 PM »
Angie,
What a fabulous garden.  :o Please take us on a photographic tour. :)

Graham
Bo'ness. Scotland

Gunilla

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #27 on: June 07, 2010, 05:43:26 PM »
We have hedgehogs visiting the garden every night. I think they eat some of the nasty slugs, at least I hope they do. 
Angie I would love to see more of your garden, please :)
Gunilla   Ekeby in the south of Sweden

angie

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #28 on: June 07, 2010, 11:18:07 PM »
Thanks everyone...my garden is a bit overcrowded but I cant stop putting plants in, I did have some plants die this winter so it gave me a few more spaces. I shall post a couple more just to show you how overcrowded it is.

Angie :)
Angie T.
....just outside Aberdeen in North East Scotland

Lesley Cox

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Re: Wildlife: a cautionary tale......
« Reply #29 on: June 07, 2010, 11:19:35 PM »
How COULD you keeep this lovely garden hidden away, often giving the impression that you are the rankest beginner and don't know where to start? :D

The pond is one of the best I've ever seen, with no sign of plastic or butynol or anything except natural vegetation enjoying the moist environment.

I look forward to amny more pictures from your garden Angie. OR ELSE! ;D
Lesley Cox - near Dunedin, lower east coast, South Island of New Zealand - Zone 9

 


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