Monday, August 16, 2021

The One Who Lives In My Garden

It's always nice to see a hedgehog in the garden! They say that hedgehogs live where the ecology is good. The common hedgehog, or European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), which lives in forests in bushes in gardens is most often found. The life span of a common hedgehog is about 6 years.


Hedgehogs are helpers in the garden, they fearlessly catch and eat snakes, ravage mouse nests, snails and slugs. Hedgehogs are not afraid of stinging insects. It costs him nothing to destroy the hornet's nest in the ground and eat its inhabitants, not paying attention to the numerous bites of wasps guarding their nest.


In Russian children's picture books, artists often depict a hedgehog carrying an apple on a prickly back. This is probably why many people have the mistaken belief that hedgehogs eat fallen apples. But they don't!

Biologists say that hedgehogs are especially attracted to hedges and secluded places for housing and nesting. Hedgehogs often build their hut for wintering between the roots of trees, in the hollows of stumps, sometimes in holes or in depressions in the ground.


This summer I met a hedgehog several times in the evening. He was sitting, basking on the patio tiles, warmed by the sun. He probably lives somewhere under the barn, there are just the roots of an old maple tree.

 

Have you met a hedgehog in your garden or near your home? What was he doing? 

 




38 comments:

  1. How cute it is, Nadezda! I have never had a hedgehog in my garden. I think they don't belong here where I live. You are so lucky!
    Hugs!

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    1. Hedgehogs have enemies here, Marit. These are foxes. A year ago there were many hedgehogs, but foxes began to enter the gardens, and there are fewer of them than before. I'm lucky that he loves my garden.

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  2. Hedgehog- is a very difficult english word to remember for me. hehe I love them, they are so adorable. I met them few times here and there and I always enjoy seeing them. :) From your post I have learned much more about them, for example where they live, thank you. :) Lovely photos, in one picture this beauty is looking at you, charming photo. :) Have a nice day, lots of joy. :))) <3

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    1. I know that hedgehog in Polish is Jeż, Agnes. Glad you learned more about these nice animals. I just have taken photos of my neighbor and later I noticed he looked at me :-)

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  3. I am sure there is not a person on earth who is not fond of Hedgehogs and to have one in your garden is surely the ultimate pleasure, and as you say they do great service keeping down the slugs and other creatures that want to eat your lettuce.

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    1. Yes, David you're right. He helps me with vegetables as well as Delphinium because slugs eat this flower to the roots. ((

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  4. They are so cute! The hedgehog family lives in my garden. They often use bird waterers!
    You've taken some fantastic pics of your visitors, Nadezda!
    Happy new week !

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    1. Thank you Ela, glad you liked my pictures.
      Hugs!

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  5. Cut little fellow. I had one in the garden years ago, but as a result of an attempt to keep cats out of my garden (trying to save our breeding birds and their baby birds) I have fenced the garden. Unfortunately it also keeps the hedgehogs out.
    Regards Lisbeth

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    1. Lisbeth, I have fences around the garden as well but I think this hedgehog lives here, inside. There are some holes in the fence and probably he can go in and out.

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  6. Que buenas fotos!!. Nunca he visto un erizo amiga y no me importaría tenerlo en el huerto.
    Buena semana Nadezda. Cuídate.
    Un abrazo.

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    1. Me gusta que te encantan mis fotos Laura.Este erizo está acostumbrado a vivir en mi jardín.

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  7. I do love hedgehogs but their numbers are dropping in the UK. Never realised that they would take on a snake.

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    1. Sue, the wild hedgehogs that live in the forest are likely to encounter snakes. Those who live near people, I think, are eating food from the garden.

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  8. Hedgehogs are funny animals. Very often they are seen flattened on the road. It annoys how many of them are left under the cars.

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    1. Oh, poor things! Anne I hope their number will increase soon.

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  9. Hola Nadezda, los Erizos me encantan, son preciosos y de gran ayuda en el huerto. Este año casi todas las noches vemos dos adultos y uno pequeño, espero que se queden. Preciosas fotos. Besos.

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    1. Oh, Lola, tienes suerte de tener vecinos así. La familia de los erizos te ayudará muy bien :-)
      ¡Abrazos!

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  10. Ihanat kuvat siilistä. Valitettavasti en ole nähnyt niitä moneen vuoteen puutarhassamme.
    Mukavaa elokuun jatkoa.

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    1. Glad you liked my photos Anemone. You're right -the hedgehogs are rare in our woods as well.

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  11. Precioso reportaje de este bello erizo, me ha encantado. Nadezda enhorabuena por tu blog y tu maravilloso jardín, saludos desde el norte de España.

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    1. German, gracias por visitar mi blog. Me alegro de que te guste mi jardín.

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  12. The hedgehog that lives in your garden is wonderful. He is an extremely nice guy because he is very useful. How confidently he goes to places where people are and, in addition, poses for photos.
    Hedgehogs also live in my garden, but they only come out under the cover of night. Perhaps because our dog no longer walks around the yard in the evening, but lives with us at home and goes to sleep. I happened to see in the light of a street lamp how a hedgehog wanders around our yard late in the evening. As I approached him, he would freeze in motion. Since then, I have not disturbed their peace, because I want them to stay here and I am very happy that they chose our garden as a place to live.
    Hugs and warm greetings!
    Anita

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    1. Anita, you're very right! I try not to bother our hedgehog as well, because he helps me with snails and slugs in the garden.I think this one is a young hedgehog so he doesn't afraid people. There is no dogs or cats and he does not feel any danger.

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  13. How lucky and nice to have this beautiful hedgehog in your garden.
    Hugs and all the best

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  14. Bonitas fotografías. El año pasado vimos uno en el jardín, pero no sé si estará todavía no lo hemos vuelto a ver. Abrazos.

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    1. Quizás un erizo vive en tu jardín, Teresa. Les gustan sus casas.

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  15. Oh my goodness Nadezda. He is so beautiful and I enjoyed the folklore about hedgehogs too!

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    1. Lee, I did believed that hedgehogs eat apples!
      Now I try to collect slugs for him near the barn.

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  16. Cute pictures!
    But we do not have hedgehogs in our backyard.
    By the other hand we have flocks of deer that eat all the vegetation :-(

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    1. I think it's better to have hedgehogs than deer :-)
      There are no deer here, only foxes, Irina.

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  17. Умилительно) У вас такие соседи замечательные)

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    1. Да, я довольна моим соседом.
      Спасибо что заглянули!

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  18. Awww so cute.
    How wonderful to have a hedgehog in your garden.
    Lovely photographs.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan, I love him as well. It's always fun to meet him in the garden.

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