Paphos Life

Some rustling alerted me to our little friend here.
     

http://www.bnellis.eu/nature/natmammals.html (photo and description)

It's lovely to see the Cyprus Hedgehog about! I heard that they are declining in numbers.
They are nocturnal animals and I've seen the sad remains of some who get hit by cars as they try to cross a road in darkness and get hit by traffic.
A little cat food would be useful to supplement their usual diet.

Dee

Not forgetting water.

Wow! First thing I noticed were the big long lugs. What amazing photos Lovely.

Maggie B

Living next to a field we often get them come into our garden, the only downside is their droppings stick like **** to a blanket

We have one but possibly two who have been coming to our back garden for several months now.

Still can't work out if they come through the front under the big wooden gates to the covered side yard, from the back near the big shed which adjoins next door or if
they are living at the back in the other corner behind my beach hut.

We've set up a feeding station so they are under cover as one of the neighbours cats is fascinated as much as we are. She doesn't try to harm them but does follow when they go up to the top level of the garden using the ramps we put in place to help them.
The step up is about a foot high and I spotted one back in the early part of summer struggling when Mingle the cat had followed it. It scurried behind the bird bath and was hiding under the ivy. So I made a makeshift ramp with a spare brick and a piece of wood then next day, hubby put the two ramps in place at either end.

If we see they are still coming when they should be wintering we will build a house and put it up the back somewhere but for now we assume they have their own place. Apparently, they do pop out over winter if it's mild and it's not uncommon for them to change their nesting home either. Finding a place where they won't be disturbed is the main reason we haven't done it so far, as the best place is behind the beach hut but without knowing if that's where they are already isn't so easy.

We know roughly the time the visits take place and the hog disappears but a couple of hours or so later we get a repeat visit. Without spray painting one we don't know if it's the same hog...