I couldn't resist these gorgeous pictures of hedgehogs having baths. It might be cold and dark, and Christmas is coming at me far too fast and I'm not ready for it, but I can't help feeling happy when I'm looking at these cute creatures.
Edited to add this contribution from Richard (see comments below):
For anybody who's interested in hedgehog rescue, and also how best to care for wild hedgehogs that live in and around your garden, a friend of FH and myself runs a hedgehog rescue centre - and it has a website:
http://thehedgehog.co.uk/
The site is well worth exploring, because there's a lot to learn - and Derek is very approachable if you have any questions that aren't covered.
24 COMMENTS:
Charming - but WHY are they having baths?
Awwwwww!!!! I remember a news report about this overweight hedgehog (I think it was rescued by Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital) and one of the exercises the rescue people did was to take it for a swim - they filled up the bathtup and off it swam!!! It was so so so so so cute!!!
Awwwww!! Thanks for these pics - awwwwww!! :-) Take care
x
Holy cow that's a cute picture... but yes, I too am curious to know why it's in the bath!
Those are ADORABLE! I was making so many cooing, squealy noises that El Husbando finally had to come over to look too.
Could be the Radox equivalent of the Andrex dog.
Lexi and Jennifer, I have absolutely no idea why they were having baths!
Kitty, that's so cute, helping a hedgehog to lose weight by letting it go for a swim!
jj, I was sending the link round to my family and they were squeaking too!
Whirl, I'd better drop Radox a line and suggest it.
Hee. My hedgehog hates getting a bath. (She'll constantly take little poops in the water. LOL)
mynfel, until I saw these pictures I didn't even know you could bath hedgehogs! I'd love to see pictures of yours (not pooping in the bath though).
They're so tiny!
stacy, aren't they just?
Fantastic! I just love hedgehogs. So much so, that one features in some of my silly stories.
They are just so darned cute. In North America, they, of course, have 'Groundhog Day'. So I'm wondering if they have a 'Hedgehog Day' in Britain. Seems only fair.
Take very good care of yourself.
In kindness, Gary:-)
Gary, I love the idea of a Hedgehog Day. I wonder how we could get everyone to agree to it.
Maybe the bath was to get rid of the fleas?
McK, you could be right! I know very little about hedgehogs.
Aw. So cute. And so tiny!
I will resist running out and getting one. I will!
Sarah, aren't they just? I can't imagine keeping one for a pet though. I'm not keen on keeping caged animals and I wish I could let our cats out more than I do!
FHH: I'm a bit torn on the caged animal topic, too. But these pampered hoglets will doubtless live far longer than their wild cousins. IF they receive plenty of stimulus and attention -- and time outside their cages -- they will be just as happy, if not happier, than they'd be living as wildlings.
But my chicks are also free-ranging because I don't want them completely penned.
I think ultimately it comes down to how each individual animal is treated. Those left to their own devices in tiny little cages and forgotten? Their owners should be locked up themselves.
Phoenix, you're probably right about well-cared-for caged pets living longer than wild ones - life in the wild can be pretty difficult for a lot of animals, I'm guessing.
I used to have mice when I was a kid, and I've looked after a friend's rats - they are lovely creatures. But I still feel that keeping caged animals is not something I really want to do.
Mind you, keeping fierce predators that decimate the local wildlife has its downsides too!
Greetings,
"Gary, I love the idea of a Hedgehog Day. I wonder how we could get everyone to agree to it."
There are a number of Hedgehog appreciation groups on Facebook. That is a start. Maybe we could petition the Government:-)
At least I've done my bit by including a 'hedgehog' in my Christmas special. And no, I'm not self-promoting. I just relate to your stories. Have a peaceful weekend.
With respect, Gary:-)
Gary, I found the hedgehog tucked away in one of the pictures. Those photos are magical - they take us to a better world and one I'd love to travel to in stories.
And you're a regular in here, so mentioning your Christmas special is fine!
Captive hedgehogs are often former rescue hedgehogs who for whatever reason aren't able to be returned to the wild after recovering from their injuries.
For anybody who's interested in hedgehog rescue, and also how best to care for wild hedgehogs that live in and around your garden, a friend of FH and myself runs a hedgehog rescue centre - and it has a website:
http://thehedgehog.co.uk/
The site is well worth exploring, because there's a lot to learn - and Derek is very approachable if you have any questions that aren't covered.
Richard, I hadn't realised that about the rescue hedgehogs.
Thanks for the link to Derek's site. I wish I'd thought of including that! I'll add it to the post now.
Adorable or what?! Our two are completly wild so we never see them. Just leavef ood for them and clean up after them. Kind of like teenagers really.
DJK,just like teenagers, I guess it would be nice to see them occasionally!
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