A Little Hedgey Buddy

by Sharleen
(Norway)

The first photo here is of a hedgehog, in case you've never seen one. They are also not that easy to get shots of. Usually nocturnal and very shy. They make funny grunting noises as they rummage through the mulch. They are good to have in your garden because they eat small slugs(which are a major problem here) and because they also keep snakes away. Otherwise they are cute! they are cousins to porcupines but much the size of small possum and are on the recline because of roadkill which is utterly sad.

Charlotte's Web was a book I can remember being very fond of as a child. And Winnie the Pooh (which by the way is called Ole Brumm(Broom) in Norwegian--!)is also a deep favorite.

I grew up learning from my father's sense of humor about animals and the philosophical quips they might come up with, being observers of the human comedy! I don't remember ever having heard of Beatrice Potter, until later in life, in so far as references to hedgehogs.

They really ARE incredible little creatures! And difficult to get on camera. Not that they are so incredibly fast, but because they are just really, really shy!

I found one last July, I think it was, under some bushes. They make strange little grunting sounds that I can only describe as something between a micro-pig and crackling paper. (I also know this because my darling boys, who have grown up in spite of me, tried to hide one, once, in a shoebox and put it out in the storeroom before they left for the weekend.! I stood in the kitchen and wondered if I was losing my marbles, because I kept hearing this SOUND--!)

Anyway, these are three little shots of a hedgehog. It first went into cocooning position when I found it and tried to get it more in the light to take its picture.

And those quills ARE sharp!

Then, I figured I'd just take the shot with whatever lighting and hope for the best.

Afterwards, I went and sat out in the sun and the little guy came all along the veranda and across and “waddled”? “moseyed”? on down and around into the abandoned doghouse, where the stray cat usually sits when it rains. So I got these other takes.

Hope you enjoy them...excuse the spontaneous junk in the background! I was so amazed to get these shots at all that there wasn't much time to “clean up shop”! LOL

Probably it never would have ventured this tour without all the “stuff around” anyway. You may have to zoom in to enjoy the cartoon-ish like feet and the whole character of the little creature. ENJOY!