ever seen a cyprus hedgehog?

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
14/11/2009 23:24

What is wrong with ex pats here? what is it with your idea of a CLEAN weed and insect free garden??? What is wrong with you?? Go on , keep killing snakes, keep using weed killers and so kill the stuff that insects feed on and then kill the caterpillars that create the butterflies and moths that are essential for the pollination for many many plants, put down snail pellets that also poison the hedgehogs and lizards ............... go on ...................go on................

Cyprus Hedgehog ;



" The hedgehog is the only mammal with thorns that exists in Cyprus. It is a very cute animal found in gardens, around fences and in prairies.



It has been known for centuries and therefore it is connected with many legends and proverbs.



Beetles, larvae, worms, snails,are its main diet "



But hey, you don't want the NASTY bugs in YOUR garden to keep it alive do you??????????????? I am so very very sad, you are KİLLING this Islands wildlife and you should be ashamed!!!

Maz


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 1924

Message Posted:
14/11/2009 23:33

Not all ofus are! Ilove hedgehogs I think they are fab creatures. We seem to get a few in our village, and have occasionally to avoid them as they crossthe road. Also been in my back garden they have. And I personally am a 'lazy' gardener. 'Wheats and tares together sewn' - some of my 'weeds' are more beautiful than my 'flowers'. My only objection to 'nature' is when the cockroaches come indoors - then the nasty side of me comes out. But my garden belongs to its own creatures, and I trust they are allhappy - the snails that climb up the doorpost, the beetles that burrough into the wood; the worms that aerate the soil - come to think of it, perhaps THAT is why I get hedgehogs in my garden.

So please Adagirl (or 'island lass') accept that some of us accept that every created being has a right to life here. I am only too sorry that I have never seen a muflon.

Jetski


Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 584

Message Posted:
14/11/2009 23:35

Not seen any worms here (apart from the 'worm snake') and all of my Cyprus cookbooks have got recipes for snails. Yup - very sad. The hedgehogs have a raw deal.

beno12



Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 124

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 00:05

Msg 1



Yes we have one in our garden and have a extra area in the garden for the "bugs -beatles-field wasps etc etc"

also leave a few old drain pipes on the ground in this area for the all small insects & small animals..



"Roundup" weed killer is a very strong poisen no wonder so many stray dogs get poisoned "think about it before using it..."



hedgehogs feed on cockroaches...

newscoop


Joined: 23/12/2007
Posts: 2197

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 00:09

People from Hertfordshire are known as the hedgehogs.



Us being from said county venerate the creatures.



They love a saucer of milk.

swannee7


Joined: 21/08/2009
Posts: 394

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 00:17

But whatever you do, don't feed them bread or bread & milk as they can't digest it and it causes a blockage. What they REALLY love (if they can't get their normal 'wild' rations) is a little bit of tinned cat or dog food, the meaty sort.

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 01:56

You dont have to feed them at all. They eat snails and caterpillars etc. But if you use poisons in the garden then they will die. I have a lot of tropical plants inside my house and its always full of moths because they are attracted to the flowers. If I used insecticides they would kill not only the plants, but also the moths that depend on them to survive. If you have never seen a hummingbird moth (attacted to lantana) then you have missed something wonderful.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 07:20

I used to feed one when I lived in the South, infact I used to get up early to make sure he got his morning feed of cat food, I haven't seen one here yet but if I do I will feed him/her, I love hedgies, I love all animals and creatures except that bloody great spider that was in my kitchen back in the summer lol.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 07:36

We have two hedgehogs in our garden - they share pussy's tucker!



Sadly, many get drowned in swimming pools, as well as gettting poisoned, or run over on the roads.



I haven't heard any recent plans for the government to build any hedgehog tunnels - perhaps they could get an EU grant. Unfortunately, even if they did, the all money would eaten up in buying officials the Mercedes cars necessary to survey suitable sites!

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 12:34

The only Cyprus Hedgehog I know of is the President of the ROC!

louthlass


Joined: 09/11/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 13:40

Message 10.

Please don't insult the Cyprus Hedgehog!!

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 16:53

I think you will find that a lot of birds are killed by the hunters

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 18:31

Hi loving and a lot of other wildlife.Adagirl I think you will find that most brits Irish Dutch etc actually care for animals and wildlife and would now knowinhly harm them. Yes we also love our gardens but unless there is a warming on weed killer how would anyone know x

everon


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 956

Message Posted:
15/11/2009 18:39

MarieB message 2, we were lucky enough to see a pair of mouflon when we went to the Karpaz, amazing! it was the time of year when they were loosing their winter coats, they looked quite scarey, big, with horns and the coat all hanging off in lumps!!!! our son saw them the year before! and we didn't believe him! lots of people don't believe us either!

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
17/11/2009 17:19

Mouflon are cold weather mountain sheep, it was probably the large breed of (billy) goat you saw. Mouflon are only found in Troodos mountain range.

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
17/11/2009 19:56

Just a thought, and please don't think i'm being gullible, but, can you actually eat hedgehogs (minus the prickles of course) i was wondering because i do remember years ago you could get hedgehog flavoured crisps...





DD

everon


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 956

Message Posted:
17/11/2009 20:15

adagirl, look it up on internet, we have mouflon here, ask the locals too, lots of places here called after mouflon

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
18/11/2009 09:14

Usually, gypsies consider hedgehogs a delicacy!



The (dead!) hedgehog is rolled in clay and placed to roast in an open fire. When it is considered enough time has elapsed for the cooking process, the clay ball (containing the hedgehog) is raked from the fire, split open and the meat (probably guts, too!) scooped out and consumed with relish. The spines remain 'fired' in the clay.



This whole scenario is described in my novel: 'The Remittance Man's Roots' in the chapter where the little boy, beaten and bruised, runs away from a harsh ('crammer-type') boarding school in mid-winter and, about to succumb to the effects of hypothermia, chances upon a gypsy encampment and is saved by the gypsies.

adagirl


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 371

Message Posted:
18/11/2009 09:27

Everon, If they are in the Karpas then I apologise!! I visited the Troodos sanctuary and I asked if they are found anywhere else - and was told quite firmly "no, only Troodos"!!! I fear I was victim to Greek Cyp propaganda?

everon


Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 956

Message Posted:
18/11/2009 14:37

no probs adagirl, the horns were big and curly!!!! not a goat, my brother used to breed goats, so i'm used to them, so get yourself up the Karpaz, mouflon spotting! by the time I got my camera out they had bolted! here one minute, gone the next, very timid and shy

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
18/11/2009 15:15

Unfortunately Hedgehogs seem to get dazzled by car light at night and often stay in the middle of the road. We've stopped and taken them away from the road a few times.



Once one was killed before and (presumably) its mate wouldn't leave it circling around the dead one on the main road we picked it up and after asking a vet released it the next night in the mountains away from the main roads. It did drink some water and ate some of a cucumber I left out.



Aussie

Blackie


Joined: 20/12/2007
Posts: 129

Message Posted:
18/11/2009 20:05

Why did the hedgehog cross the road.





To see his flat mate.