HOW TO HELP WILD HEDGEHOGS IN OUR GARDENS? How can you tell if a hedgehog needs help? Hedgehogs are adorable and shy animals which awakens our compassionate instinct. However, interfering more than necessary can be harmful. In autumn, these creatures go on the hunt for food and slowly start to build their nests. You shouldn’t be surprised if you come across several hedgehogs during the autumn months. However, their numbers have declined by 50% since the year 2000. This is why it is crucial to help hedgehogs when necessary. There are several signs you can spot to know whether a hedgehog is in need of help. If you find a hedgehog that looks injured, emaciated or ill, you should act straight away. The same goes for baby hedgehogs that have been left behind. Watch the nest for a while - if the mother hedgehog doesn’t come back after two hours, you should bring the hoglets to safety as soon as possible. Hoglets that are found outside of the nest also need your help. If you find a hedgehog active in winter, it is a sign that it hasn’t started hibernating and it needs your help. You can make their lives a little easier by following these tips.
WELCOME HEDGEHOGS INTO YOUR GARDEN Create small burrows so that these creatures can get into your garden easily.
HELP THEM PREPARE FOR HIBERNATION Hedgehogs need nesting materials and a place to hide in order to prepare for hibernation. Leave some leaves, greenery or wood in a corner so that they can help themselves and build themselves a nest. You can also make little hedgehog houses or places to hide available.
PUT SOME FOOD OUT It is important to give hedgehogs extra food only in autumn, otherwise their hibernation can be delayed. When hedgehogs can’t find any more food at the end of autumn, they naturally fall into hibernation but this doesn’t happen when food can still be found. You can put out canned cat food, cooked poultry meat or scrambled eggs (without seasoning or oil).
MAKE FRESH WATER AVAILABLE Leave fresh water out for the hedgehogs near the food. This is especially crucial during hot and dry summers. Hedgehogs should never have milk because they are naturally lactose intolerant and it can cause nasty digestion problems.
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