Help! We've evicted a hedgehog!

[elsie]

Today my partner finally knocked down the rickety potting shed we inherited with the allotment, and it was only when he was bagging up the rubbish that he noticed the large, dusty ball and luckily recognized it. At this point, there wasn't anything left of it's nest, so we've tried to provide the best shelter we could for it for the night.
I really can't believe that a real live hedgehog had taken up residence on my plot ;D and now we've upset it! :'(  As my plot is still in it's construction phase, I hadn't even got round to planning how to lure one to it (fingers crossed and hope I was really lucky) so this has completely overwhelmed me. What do I do? What's the best home I can build for it (please don't rain tomorrow) and where should I site it on my unplanted plot? Any other advice, please!

[elsie]

[betula]

If you Google hedgehog you will find lots of information I have just had a look. :)

[jesssands]

I did see little wooden hedgehog houses for sale on ebay a while back, might give you some idea of something you could maybe "lash up"!

[elsie]

Thanks betula, am OD'ing on it at the moment.  ;)  Was just hoping someone might have "the perfect solution" as there is lots of info on how to attract them, but not on how to keep one that might, understandably, not think my plot is welcoming!  I'm hoping that if I can get it right tomorrow, we can still be friends.

Will check that out now Jessands  :)

[Jeannine]

We dug one up that had made a nest in some compost a couple of years ago, John had hit it with the spade and it looked a bit iffy, we took it home for a night and kept in the shed after giving it some warm milk, the next day it was better but not well and was limping, feeling no break we figured it had caught the whack.

We took it to the vets who said it had concussion and all we could do was watch it,but not to let it go as it would be very vunerable so  we kept it at home for a few days then made a house for it in the greenhouse on the lottie where it lived for 6 weeks, we gave it dog food and raw meat etc and slugs.

When it was obvious it wanted to go we would leave the door open while we were there, and it would come and go, then one day it wandered off into the bushes, we watched it for a while, but it was ready to go.

We continued to leave food in the greenhouse for a long time and it's bed too and we know it came back, once the warm weather came it stopped.

It was kind of neat.

XX Jeannine

[Pesky Wabbit]

Please don't give them cows milk, it gives them diarrhoea and that's quite often kills them.

Dog food is ok

[Magnolia]

Jeannine thats a lovely tale.

[elsie]

Yes, thank you for your story Jeannine, you'll be pleased to hear that I've chilled out a bit now! ;D We piled up lots of wood and stuff to make sure it had somewhere to go, and have been down every day to fill two trays with Hedgehog food and water (thanks PW) the food is being eaten, so hope the hedgehog is now OK.  :D