Tuesday 9 October 2012

Penny Meets a Hedgehog

Every night Penny's first task on exiting the back door is to search the regular haunts of the Hedgehog. A couple of nights ago I guessed she had found one. I could only see her reflective collar bobbing up and down as she kept putting her nose on a spiky back. I think she was encouraging it to run but it wisely hunched down and stayed put.

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Finally the Hedgehog made a dash for a more sheltered spot while Penny tried to work out why it tickled every time she got her nose too close.

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Finally she decided to approach from a different angle where she could stand and watch.

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It made me smile as I remembered an incident about a week ago. That night I opened the back door but Penny refused to go out. She kept looking closely at the ground just outside the door. What monster was keeping her in? A small frog! Maybe she is wary of the way they leap about in the dark when she gets too close. Whatever the reason she didn't step outside until I tickled the frog to make it move away. It disappeared under a wheelie bin and Penny spent ages trying to track the monster down.

10 comments:

  1. Nowt as odd as a dog. Mine don't like frogs but lie down and try to out stare them.

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  2. Just look at that wonderful camouflage! You are so lucky to have them as regular visitors John, haven't seen a Hedgehog here for years, the area is now so built up and they are at great risk from our winter veld fires and locals catching them for food and muti... And Penny is very wise indeed!

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    Replies
    1. It does blend in well with the paving slab Maree.

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  3. a) maybe she was a bit hesitant as licking an Amphibian or Erinaceinae from between ones foot pads and toes is gross.
    b) maybe the thought of crunching cartiledge under her just gave her the night willies.
    c) could be she was stopping and thinking about dragging Monty out with her for protection for the monsters.

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    Replies
    1. Monty or Freddy for company and protection would be a good idea.

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  4. Years ago my old dog Emma had an encounter with a hedgehog in the garden. After this she was covered in fleas. I would give Penny a check just in case!

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    Replies
    1. Years ago my Jack Russell used to come in covered with Hedgehog fleas but they seem to be flea free these past few years.

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  5. Penny must wonder what she will come across next in the garden, especially since her face and nose is so close to whatever is lurking there! Great photos!

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    Replies
    1. She spends hours investigating and searching out various creatures, Glo.

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Thank you for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Any comment, or correction to any information or identification I get wrong, is most welcome. John

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