I saw this dear fellow going for a saunter along the drive in front of the bungalow this morning. I haven't seen one (alive) for a few years. Apparently their population is twenty five percent less than it was twenty five years a go. Modern farming methods and the use of pesticides and insecticides are said to be the cause of their decline.
The weather's been "skorchio" here in Ireland for the last few weeks. Long may it be so.
Have you seen any hedgehogs lately?
We actually sat on the patio last night looking at the bay. I had a few cans of Newcastle Brown and J had a jug of home made Sangria. It's great living on the Irish Riviera. Till it rains of course!
You've got the best weather in Europe at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAn old gypsy once told me how to cook them, but I wouldn't dream of doing it. The Igel (pronounced eagle), as it's called here, has a hard enough time crossing the road safely.
Yes it's fantastic weather here in West Cork, Gwil. Silage and hay being cut all over the place.
ReplyDeleteDid the gypsy tell you to cover it in mud and bake it in the oven? No I coulldn't harm an hedgehog either. They aren't vicious in any way and they are the ardener's friend eating ths slugs and snails and nasty insects.
Road kill always saddens me on the rural roads. If car speed limits were reduced they would have time to stop. Thanks!
That was it. When it's cooked the spines come off with the mud.
DeleteSo I believe Gwil. I have heard the gypsies call none gypsies "country people". Thanks!
DeleteSame here, 2 in 5 years, sadly one dead in the back garden. I'm surprised there's as many as 75% left, they were quite common here but very rarely seen now.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like a few in the garden to eat some slugs.
Saddens me as well, we see a lot more flattened on the road than alive. Sure motorists could miss most of them.
Suppose there might have been an argument for eating them when they were very common, but I'd need to be starving to try, there can't be much meat on them?
I read the bees are also dying out Cumbrian. It always surprises me that farmers can cut silage when wildlife have young in the fields. The bees need flowers to pollinate and the grass is never allowed to go to seed.
ReplyDeleteSaw a Corncrake walking down the main road with her young the other year. Think she had been disturbed by contractors cutting silage.
I couldn't seen an argument for eating them either. Once saw a fox carrying a rat and once one with a worm in it's mouth. So they must all serve a purpose.
Thanks!
I just watched one cross the garden at this very moment. Badgers are responsible for the decline in numbers. We don't have badgers here. We have lots of hedgehogs. I regard hedgehogs as rats with prickles.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel. I think badgers get blamed for a lot they don't do. I often see them killed on the roads along with foxes, hares, birds and rabbits.
DeleteThe hedgehog is the gardener's friend and I wish they lived in my veg plot. I planted twelve cabbages a few weeks a go and the snails ate the lot.
I seem to be the only person who sees loads of them. There is no shortage of hedgehogs in Norfolk. No predators here, just cars I suppose.
DeleteI think Norfolk must be one of the few places with an abundance of hedgehogs Rachel. I have only seen 2 in the last fifteen years a live.
DeleteOne less hedgehog here after our dogs searched one out the other night. They were told off big time. I like hedgehogs.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having a long stretch of sunny weather. We are waiting for ours to arrive. Still in thermals.
Hi Vera. Yes I believe the weather's been terrible in parts of Europe and America. I am sure the good weather will soon catch up and you will have a great summer in France. Thanks!
DeleteThe last alive one I saw dave was when we were still living in Spain, she had moved into our big barn and made her nest under some hay, she raised five young. Around here they are very scarce, if we see them they are dead. did you report your sighting of the Corncrake? I understood there was only a couple of secret places where they can still be heard.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know you were supposed to report Corncrake sighting Anne. I have read that farmer's harvesting fields should mow up the middle of fields instead of just going round the perimeters and working in so that wildlife have a chance to escape without being trapped. Thanks!
DeleteWhen i was a kid they were common sight..either flat on the road or in the garden
ReplyDeleteIve never seen one in trelawnyd
Sounds like they are disappearing John. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteLast time I saw live was when my old boxer dog found one traversing the garden when I lived in Galway. Only seen the odd squished one lately on the back roads of Laois.
ReplyDeleteLast time I saw live was when my old boxer dog found one traversing the garden when I lived in Galway. Only seen the odd squished one lately on the back roads of Laois.
ReplyDeleteHello Minerva. I see a lot of roadkill on the Irish rural roads. It always saddens me. Especially baby rabbits. Perhaps somebody should start an hedgehog watch? People can report when they see a live hedgehog. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteHello Minerva. I see a lot of roadkill on the Irish rural roads. It always saddens me. Especially baby rabbits. Perhaps somebody should start an hedgehog watch? People can report when they see a live hedgehog. Thanks for your comment.
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