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| Incredible photo by: mattcolephotography.co.uk |
It is Autumn where I live. The season has come on quickly with rainy days and windy nights. There has been little in the way of the crisp, cool autumn that I enjoy. But, I am lucky I am not a Hedgehog. Their Autumn is spent birthing and preparing for the winter.
In early Fall the last litter of Hedgehogs (called Hoglets) are born. These late bloomers must ensure they grow and eat enough to make it through the cold winter. In the upcoming months wild Hedgehogs will be preparing for the shorter, colder days. Hedgehogs do not gather food and store it (as we see in many artist's works).They eat what they find as soon as they find it. This means they need to go all-you-can-eat buffet to boost their weight for Winter. Once the Winter sets in they will find a cozy den to hibernate until the Spring.
Peggy is doing her part to ensure her belly is round despite my reassurances that she will stay nice and toasty and well fed all year. (Domestic Hedgehogs should never, ever hibernate. It is dangerous for them.) She does seem less active now that the days are shortening. It is not a dramatic shift but it is a noticeable slow down in her bursts of playing.
Source: The Hedgehog Calendar
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