A sad day today at Hinterland as our first ever baby, Naboo, crossed over the rainbow bridge with his mummy. 🌈🤍
Naboo was a very special, very sassy little man, and he completely stormed through life like the absolute worm-destroying rhino that he was, despite his rough start. 🐛
Of course I was never destined to have an easy start to my breeding journey and my Baby-Muncher Minky was going to absolutely make sure of it. 😂 Naboo was one of 7 babies, and after Minky was more interested in snacking on her bubbas than snuggling them (😅), Naboo was the only baby to successfully foster over to his foster mama, Zurie, at Mills Quills, and subsequently, he was the only baby I would ever have to survive his murderous mother. 🥲
Our little Naboobles found his forever home with his adoring mummy, Chloe, who has done a stellar job of being his human slave for all these years, and I’m so thankful for all the love she gave him, even when he’d call her names. 🥰 We were also lucky enough to have Naboo back to give us a couple of beautiful little babies to carry on Minky’s line, including my homegrown baby girl, Perdy. 🫶
Thank you, Naboo, for starting our little legacy in true dramatic style, and adding a little bit of ✨ spice ✨ to everything you did. Your coming into this world knocked at least a year off my life through stress, but your going out of this world takes a little bit of me with you.
Rest easy, you big, grouchy, drama king. I hope the biggest bowl of wormies was waiting for you up in hoggie heaven. 😇
TW: pet illness, death, grief, sadness, ugly crying, and probably plenty of snot.
Since having as many hogs as I do, I’m often asked whether I find them becoming ill or passing away any easier, and the answer is both yes and no.
Yes, since I have so many hogs, I’ve come to terms with the truth that I’ll experience a lot more sickness and death than most owners, and I have become quite resilient and matter-of-fact when handling most things and with the advice I offer others. I tend to take a very educated and scientific approach with my herd when coming to terms with the realistic outcome of their health and situations I might find myself in with them, which I’m aware may often make me come across as cold.
Having said that, no, losing a hog never gets any easier. Especially when most of them are babies I’ve brought into this world and have bonded with since they were the size of my thumb. I’ll always try to do the best by my animals to ensure I’m giving them, what I believe to be, the best chance to thrive - but when constantly trying to grow and evolve with husbandry, there are so many “what ifs” that are left behind that can be crippling if an animal passes “before their time”.
I also find myself in a fairly unique position of guilt. As, I hope, so many of you know, I try my hardest to be there for as many owners and hogs as I can in their time of need, and I’m so grateful that so many people trust me with that privilege. But in helping so many other animals each day, those days where I’m not able to help my own leave me feeling particularly devastated and with a sense of imposter syndrome when it comes to the help I give others.
I didn’t really have a purpose to this post other than to highlight that you can have 1 hedgehog or 21 hedgehogs, and still be sat balling your eyes out at 2am because you’re watching a little light that you love so much, leave the world. When I’m helping someone through their worst moments with a belo
Mmmmm, let me relieve you of this hand sweat. 👅
Mila is just making sure my hands are super clean before I go anywhere near her nest with new babies… 👀🐾
You alright there, Dali? 😂
Our handsome Dovahkiin. 🥰😍
He simply has the most perfect teddy bear face. All of my boys are so handsome, but this dude really does win me over 🥹 (Don’t tell the others! 🤫)
My chubba bubba has been on a few date nights with Mogwai over the last few weeks and we’re hoping that some teeny tiny Dovahs may be on the way! 🤞
Gorgeous as he is, his singing leaves a lot to be desired as he sounds a bit like a shrieking piglet but I’m hopeful Mog will see past his issues with pitch and be serenaded nonetheless - it’s the thought that counts, right?! 😝
Not a hedgehog today, but instead, one of our boarding brother tenrecs, Skyler! If you’ve never seen a lesser tenrec, you might be forgiven in thinking they look like a hedgehog, but they’re actually related to elephants, manatees and aardvarks. 🤔😂
Unlike hedgehogs, they have little grabby hands to climb, and also to give themselves baths with. 🥹 Caught this video of little Skyler washing his face after his worm dinner, and it took every ounce of self-restraint to not squeal at how cute he was. 😝
My little old lady chickpeas, Mango, Melon & Mara. 💕
Living out their twilight retirement years. ✨
Heartbroken to say that on Thursday last week I had to put our wee little Pixel to rest. 💔 At only a year old we lost her way before her time and, although it wasn’t for long, we treasured the few months we did have with her.
Sadly over the last few months Pixel had developed a neurological condition which left her blind, with a head tilt, lapping in circles all through the day, and ultimately ended in her not being able to stand properly, so although she was very much her cheeky self and still eating me out of house and home, we made the tough decision to eventually let her go. 😢
These are the last videos I got of her during our final cuddles in the car outside the vets, with the last two videos being the last I took of her whilst we were walking in to the vets (she decided to attack my hoodie 😅) and whilst we were sat waiting to go in. She was a very special little girl and she touched plenty of hearts in her short time. We’ll miss her immensely, but she’ll be home soon where she belongs.
Pixel has been sent off for a necropsy so we can better understand the issues she had developed and I’m working closely with her lovely breeder to make sure Pixel’s passing wasn’t in vain, and that we can use it to better the lines we’re breeding moving forward. ❤️
For now, I wanted you all to see just how cute she was until the very end. Rest in peace, sweet girl - finally bed time for you. 🕊️
Carrying on with our little deviation from hedgehogs, did you know that we always have a single Syrian hamster here at Hinterland?! 🐹
After our previous female, Possum, passed away last year, we got little Orange Juice. 🧡
She’s a little fat, greedy monkey but she’s ever so sweet. She’s definitely a different kettle of fish than the hogs, but that’s why I love her! Contrary to popular belief, hamsters are way more demanding and need a lot more than hedgehogs, including very specialist set ups - I take my hat off to people that have multiple! 😅
So whilst I’ll only ever have one at a time, it fills a little hole in my heart being able to spoil OJ. 🍊🧃 She comes to keep me company whilst I’m sorting out the hogs, knowing that if she comes to the glass, she gets hand-fed her treats. 😛
The last update for today from us comes in the form of 3 very unexpected guests…
When the friend of Rosa’s late mum contacted us to hand Rosa in, she was also in a desperate search for somewhere that could also take the 3 female guinea pigs that were now needing a home after their owner’s sad passing, and asked whether we could take them as well.
Now my response probably should have been no, but seeing as I have absolutely no willpower and I’m not reasonable in the slightest when it comes to animals in need, an hour later we had these 3 lovely ladies holidaying in our bathroom. 🤣😅
I’m extremely lucky that Joshua is very tolerant of my wacky plans and all the things I agree to without permission - easier to ask for forgiveness than permission, right?!
They’re only with us temporarily until I take them up to Littlest Wildlife Hotel - North Devon on Sunday, where they’ll be joining a beautiful little herd of 9 other piggy girlies. ☺️💕
I’ll have to take the “Hedgehogs” out of our name soon enough. 😂
Wee little Rosa is here after her mum sadly passed away - she’s over 4 years old and has a little trouble getting around now so she’s going to remain a permanent foster with the African Pygmy Hedgehog Club UK Rehoming Service!
She’ll be off to our resident retirement home, Shady Pines, with foster carer Ellie on Sunday where she’ll live out the rest of her days. ❤️
Isn’t she just so adorable? She’s so inquisitive and keen to see everything and everyone!
Our Princess Peach is now named Smudge - isn’t that just the cutest name for her? When she’s not covering herself in crushed kibble or scratching at the glass to come for cuddles, she can be found slowly pulling me into a false sense of security that we’ve finally found the off button…
We had not. 😅💕
Perfect Princess Peach - look at that gorgeous little splitty nose! 😍🍑
Not available. 🏡
My gorgeous little Crumble, who will be carrying on Dijon’s line. 💕
Not available. 🏡
We’ve been keeping a secret… 2 bellies, 8 legs and 36 toes worth of secret! 😅🐾
Nearly 4 weeks ago our Melon gave birth to her final litter before retirement - 2 glorious little chubsters born on National Peach Crumble day, and so in true Hinterland fashion, they’re a little girl and boy named Peach and Crumble! 🍑🧁
We didn’t advertise the birth of these babies as, sadly, a week before their arrival, I lost their dad, Dijon, at only 6 months old. 😢 Unfortunately he had a sudden leg injury that, despite only being a sprain, with all our best efforts and with the usual fantastic support of our vets, caused him to go into shock and he wasn’t able to recover.
Dijon had only been with us a few months and he was sassy as hell, but he had firmly wormed his way into my heart and he was so very cute - we were devastated to lose him way before we should have, and with all the sleepless nights we tried to get him to fight. 💔
Because of this, Peach and Crumble are the only babies I’ll ever have from my big boy Dijon, and so I decided to take some time to make some bittersweet decisions as to whether they would stay or go to new homes.
Thankfully both of these huge greedy monkeys are doing amazingly well, and I’ve decided that they’ll both be going to new homes that I know will love them so wholly. ☺️ Crumble’s new owner has kindly agreed that he can come back for some holidays throughout his life to pair and keep Dijon’s bloodline running strong, and little Princess Peach has also found her forever home where I know she’ll be very spoilt! 💕
Take a peep at our next two posts for a (very late!) introduction to Melon’s last, and Dijon’s first and only, two beautiful babies. 😍
Can’t believe my two little beans finally went off to their forever homes. 🥹 Can you believe how perfect they are despite everything they went through?!
HINT Frodo & HINT Milo. 😘
PS - that is 100% Milo giving all that sass because he likes to be the loudest thing in the room and will even try to out-decibel a pneumatic drill. 🙄
And for good measure, let’s have some double trouble with cousins Mocha & Marzipan who have come for an early brunch. Bottomless cock(roach)tails anyone?! 💃🥰
Please note how Mocha licks every single worm to check whether it’s a bug she likes and then spits it out if not because clearly mealworms are for peasants, and she’s an absolute reprobate. 😂😅
Seeing as so many people love the little munchy crunchies, I come bearing gifts this evening! First up we have Milo enjoying his first ever mealie worms, I think it’s safe to say he approves! 🐛🤤
I’ve offended Mara’s ancestors with the hoover at an unsociable hour… 😅
ASMR wormies with Pym - might make it a new feature on the page. 🤣🐛
