HOW YOU CAN HELP HEDGEHOGS

HELPING HOGS

During the autumn and winter months, hedgehogs often need a bit of extra help.

These prickly mammals are typically found in gardens, parks, woodland and green spaces across the country. They thrive in areas with lots of bushes and thick undergrowth.

If you’re lucky enough to have hedgehogs in your garden, you can make it a safer environment for them by tidying away netting and securing hot tubs. If you have a garden pond, ensure there is a ramp so hedgehogs can get out if they accidentally fall in. A small gap in your garden fence, hedge or gate will mean they can come and go as they please. Don’t put out slug pellets, as these are harmful to hedgehogs, and the hogs will repay you by eating the slugs for you instead! If you are tidying your garden during the autumn, please check long grass and hedges before strimming them or piles of leaves before disposing of them. If you are planning a bonfire, then check the wood pile carefully for any hedgehogs who may have made their home there.

Hedgehogs are largely nocturnal and, unlike during the summer months, will not be moving nest or hunting for extra food for hoglets as regularly, so if you see one during the daylight hours the it may need our help. Any hedgehog that appears wobbly, lethargic, visibly sick or injured should also be reported to our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

Hedgehogs hibernate over winter, so any hedgehogs out during colder weather have likely failed to hibernate. This may be because the hoglet was born in a late litter or doesn’t have the necessary fat stored and they may need to be taken to our National Wildlife Rescue Centre to be given the best chance of surviving the winter.

Anyone asked to contain a hedgehog by our animal helpline should pick it up using gardening gloves or a thick towel and place it in a secure box. It can then be left with fresh water and tinned cat or dog food until we arrive. Hedgehogs should not be fed any fish based wet food, bread, or given milk as they are lactose intolerant.

Our National Wildlife Rescue Centre normally sees an influx of hedgehogs during the autumn and winter months who then must be cared for throughout the winter. They cannot be released until they reach a healthy weight of over 600g and the weather has warmed up to a consistent night time temperature of over four degrees centigrade.

During this time the wildlife centre relies on generous donations for tinned cat, dog and hedgehog food to feed the hedgehogs in their care. You can donate hedgehog food to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre at Fishcross, Clackmannanshire FK10 3AN.