IN THIS GUIDE
Hedgehogs are a centrepiece of British wildlife .
They are an straight off recognisable part of our cultural inheritance , from Beatrix Potter ’s Mrs. Tiggy - Winkle properly through to Sonic the Hedgehog .
If you ’re wondering how to attract hedgehogs to your garden , how to assist them find food and tax shelter , and how to protect them in the wild , then this guide is for you .
Here ’s what we ’ll cover :
Let ’s start with a look at what Erinaceus europeaeus get up to .
Overturned plant pots can make for a welcoming home
Habits Of A Hedgehog
If you ’re not familiar , hedgehog are peaky , nocturnal mammals.1Bradford , A. ( 2015 , June 16 ) . Hedgehog fact . livescience.com . retrieve March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.livescience.com/51221-hedgehog.html
They ’re quite diminished , and their spiny front is quite rare because of their Nox - prison term habits .
During autumn and early winter they ’re building up fertile reserve to survive the winter .
Then , in the winter , they hibernate . They take shelter in a specially make nest and flow out over winter .
In late March and other April , hedgehogs wake up from their hibernation and begin to search for food.2Hedgehog Hibernation . ( 2021 , October 14 ) . Hedgehog Street . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.hedgehogstreet.org/about-hedgehogs/hibernation/
Then in May and June Erinaceus europeaeus give birth to their litters , before reprize the cycle .
Why Do Hedgehogs Need To Be Protected?
While hedgehogs are considered to be at least concern of quenching by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) , they are struggling.3Amori , G. ( 2016 , September 9).Erinaceus europaeus . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . retrieve March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.iucnredlist.org/species/29650/2791303
There are thought to be fewer than a million hedgehogs left in the UK , with 30 - 70 % of population disappearing since 2000 consort to the Wildlife Trusts.4Henshall , M. ( 2022b , March 2).The State of Britain ’s Hedgehogs 2022 . National Biodiversity web . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://nbn.org.uk/news/the-state-of-britains-hedgehogs-2022/
Their favourite habitats – restrained , grassy blank space like gardens , parks hedgerows , woodlands , and grassland – are often under scourge from climate modification , development , and intensive agriculture .
These are the same factors we ensure in ourbeesandbutterfliesguides : Erinaceus europaeus are another animal that , sadly , just ca n’t keep up .
Despite dwindle away populations overall , urban populations have actuallyincreased .
As raw habitats alteration , hedgehogs are relying more and more on gardens in urban and suburban areas .
Handle with care
Thankfully they are considered “ a mintage of ‘ principal importance ’ under the NERC Act , which is meant to confer a ‘ duty of province ’ to public bodies ” , according to Hedgehog Street.5Legal protection for Erinaceus europeaeus . ( 2017 , August 2 ) . Hedgehog Street . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.hedgehogstreet.org/legal-protection/
Legal shelter is n’t a quick fix for the thing that porcupine find problematic , though , so in the meantime we require to step in .
What Can We Do To Help Hedgehogs?
Thankfully , there are plenty of things you could do to facilitate , both in your garden and beyond .
Here we deal 12 things you may do to aid porcupine , many of which are agile and easy .
They are centred around facilitate porcupine to :
In rally , they will assist you too ! Hedgehogs are know as Gardner ’s Friends for good reason : “ diet of common garden pests such as biff , snails and caterpillars”.6Martin , J. ( 2019 , July 7).What do Erinaceus europeaeus exhaust . Woodland Trust . retrieve March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/07/what-hedgehogs-eat/
( Not that we aid them with the expectation of something in homecoming ! )
1) Move Injured Hedgehogs Out Of Harm’s Way
Because hedgehogs are nocturnal , if you see one in the daylight it usually mean something ’s not right .
If you derive across a hedgehog laying on the pot or by the side of the road , there ’s a potent likeliness that it is hurt or in distress .
St Tiggywinkles , the renowned and adorably name wildlife hospital , give this advice for helping an offend hedgehog :
“ If your Erinaceus europeaeus is very poorly or is cold , you’re able to also give it a hot water bottle or a drinks bottle filled with warm water system and envelop in a tea towel , to snuggle up to . ”
While you ’re look after an injure hedgehog , keep them shelter in a cardboard box . Keep in brain they ’re not bad climbers , though : you ’ll need to verify the box has high-pitched edge .
line the box with newspaper will give them somewhere cosy to recover . A tea towel drape over the box gives the hedgehog somewhere to cover and feel safe .
feed them a little fleck of click or cat food for thought will go down well , but birth in mind that theydo notlike gelt and milk .
It ’s important to know how to foot up a hedgehog in a style that wo n’t spite you or it .
To fend off getting sting , you could wear wooden-headed gardening gloves or use a towel .
Put your hand prostrate either side of the hedgehog , and mildly outflank them up .
Please bear in mind that you should only pluck up injured hedgehogs .
You ’re not picking them up to pet them , you ’re try out to aid them .
2) Find The Best Course Of Action To Help Injured Hedgehogs Heal
tattle to a wildlife hospital or specialist hedgehog care organization can help you find out the good trend of action .
Here are some people you could blab to :
You may find yourself looking after a hedgehog for just a scant meter , or you may have to care for an overwintered Erinaceus europeaeus until it is stiff enough to go back out in the wild .
Image courtesy of The Wildlife Trusts12How to build a hedgehog home. (n.d.). The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 10 April 2025, fromhttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home
If this is the case , it ’s important to bar decrepit hedgehogs from hole up .
A free weight of below 600 g by the end of December is considered risky for hibernation , as their rich second-stringer may not be enough to last them through the winter months.10Hedgehog Fact Sheet – Tiggywinkles . ( 2021 , November 3 ) . Tiggywinkles – Wildlife Hospital . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/hedgehog-fact-sheet/
It ’s good to attempt to encourage them to forage for their food and to expose them to raw scant figure , so that they do n’t get too comfortable or complacent to live when they go back outside .
3) Be Careful Not ToCauseInjuries To Hedgehogs
Strimmers and lawn mowers are two common cause of Erinaceus europeaeus getting seriously injured , and get to be put down .
When you fire them up , be thrifty that the areas you ’re strimming or mowing are free of Erinaceus europaeus !
Hedgehogs can also be hurt while taking protection in compost piles .
If you have a compost pile in your garden and you contrive to turn it with a pitchfork or like , check underneath first .
They can also become immobilise in barbed conducting wire , so if you apply any in your garden , have it at a minimal stature of 30 cm .
4) Leave Some Wild Areas In Your Garden
Hedgehogs like to snivel for insect to eat , and insects are more potential to be found in wild and overgrown areas .
By leaving a consecrate wild plot of land , you give louse somewhere to advert out in your garden .
Because hedgehogs are insectivore – meaning they eat insects – they will be attracted to a garden with furious , insected area .
Insects are draw off to overgrown areas , bee hotels , log stack , and freshwater sources .
If your freshwater informant is a pool , make certain there is a net over the top or an exit ramp at one side .
This means that a hedgehog will not drown if it falls in : because despite being good swimmer , they will get hackneyed out and worn out if they ca n’t get out .
5) Give Hedgehogs Something To Eat
The foods mention above ( big cat food for thought , detent solid food ) can be pass on outside in a bowl around dusk , as can irrigate . But remember : no bread or Milk River !
Hedgehogs trip far and wide explore for food , and making their hunt well-situated will reduce the amount of roads they need to cross .
6) Build A Wooden Hedgehog Home
If you need to go a step further in making your garden a safe blank for hedgehog , you’re able to build them somewhere to survive .
The Wildlife faith have some great instructions for build a hedgehog home , which will appear something like this11How to progress a hedgehog home . ( n.d . ) . The Wildlife Trusts . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions/how-build-hedgehog-home :
All you need to ramp up a hedgehog home is a hammer and nail , some woods , a bit of sheeting , newspaper , and some leave and soil for insulation .
By cleaning your hedgehog home plate once a twelvemonth in leap – after hibernation and before they start looking for a partner – you leave a secure , clean tax shelter for visiting hogget .
Make certain the house physician hedgehog has moved on before cleaning . If you clean while they ’re just out hunting or research , they may abandon the home .
7) Build A More Simple Hedgehog Home
you could also make a uncomplicated home from a plastic container if you do n’t fancy getting the tools out . Again , great instructions are provide by the Wildlife Trust.13Make A Simple Hedgehog House . ( n.d . ) . call back March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2018-11/SIMPLE-HEDGEHOG-HOUSE.jpg
The same cleanup tip apply for a charge card hedgehog home : tonic bedding once a class in springtime .
They can also live in compost tidy sum : crack outour pathfinder to compostingfor tip on building a quite a little .
8) Don’t Disturb Nesting Hedgehogs
female parent hedgehogs feed their hoglets for around eight weeks after parturition .
If their nest is disturbed in this clip , the mother may give up the hoglets , or even eat them .
To annul this gnarly fate , take very deliberate efforts not to allude or otherwise step in with the nest .
you’re able to forget food nearby to reduce the distance mum has to travel when hunting , but again , be measured not to get your scent too faithful to the nest .
9) Don’t Return Stray Babies To Their Nest
Human aroma will mean the mother does not recognize the sister , and they will most likely eat on the perceive intruder .
If you find a stray hoglet , refer to step 1 to 3 above . You may have to look after it indoors , or take it to a trained professional for proper care .
10) Connect Gardens With Hedgehog Holes
Erinaceus europaeus need to jaunt to witness food , friend , and somewhere to log Z’s . fence between gardens are a huge hindrance to their night - time wanderings .
The modal hedgehog roams up to 2 km a night , which is a foresighted style consider their small size !
By giving them a way to move around the neighbourhood more easily , you help to keep them out of injury ’s way .
If they ’re able to travel through gardens and hedge and underbrush , they do n’t have to expose themselves to busy roadstead .
By putting hedgehog holes in your fence you ’re becoming part of something large than yourself .
Over 60,000 people are presently register on Hedgehog Street – a political campaign for get in touch garden in Britain!14Home . ( 2022a , March 8) . Hedgehog Street . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.hedgehogstreet.org/
“ It sound such a simple matter but leaving the appropriate size col under your gate or fencing gravel board can make your garden right away approachable to Erinaceus europaeus , ” partake in Master Horticulturist Dan Ori .
“ I do this in my own garden and garden projects ; if you ever need to talk a nurseryman into making modification to help Erinaceus europaeus just use the wizard news “ they deplete slug ” and you will have an exigent convert . ”
11) Avoid Slug Pellets
Remember what we say earlier : if you draw porcupine to your garden , they can help to check level of sluggard and various other pests that they feed on .
If they eat a envenom slug , they will suffer ominous effects.15Helping Hedgehogs . ( 2022 , February 16 ) . The British Hedgehog Preservation Society . Retrieved March 23 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/helping-hedgehog/
Wood preservers on fence can be poisonous for hedgehogs too , so adjudicate to debar these on fences near areas where hedgehog will be .
And keep in thinker that hedgehogs can fall into other substances – like paint , cesspit crude oil , and chemical in drains – if they are left expose .
Make certain to cover anything that an inquisitive porcupine might enquire .
12) Check Bonfires Carefully Before Lighting
hedgehog find the stack Sir Henry Joseph Wood of a balefire particularly beguiling , so if you work up a bonfire pile over time , see for any nest hedgehogs before light it .
This will help oneself protect them against being incinerate .
In Conclusion…
porcupine are gentle , funny creatures that drop their clock time snivel for food , exploring , and finding comfortable places to hibernate .
Their traditional home ground are at risk of exposure , and they have turned to urban areas as a result .
This puts them in the way of risks they are not familiar with , but there are a few things we can do to make their lives easier .
The step in this guide will give visiting hedgehogs their best chance at continue dependable , well fed , and shelter in your garden .
