How to care for hedgehogs in Autumn

 

Photo by S. Gerth

Sometimes hedgehogs are born late, so they would be too young to survive through the winter. Or they could be weaned too early, orphaned, sick, or injured. We can give them a helping hand to help them survive before releasing them in Spring. Older hedgehogs may need help too (natural food will be scarce this time of year), so you can still care for them!

 

If you ever find a sick, injured, or baby hedgehog, please report it to the RSPCA, your local vet, or wildlife hospital.

 

Signs of a sick hedgehog:

• Out during the day – hedgehogs are nocturnal, so seeing one during the day is a big warning sign
• Overweight or underweight – they are signs of internal problems like lungworm or intestinal parasites
• Wobbling or falling over – dehydration or infection
• Crying or squealing – this hedgehog is terrified or in pain

 

Photos by Eco Kids Planet, 21ST_Century, Hedgehog Street

Hedgehog home checklist:

• Good cover and quiet part of the garden
• If indoors, no heating (like a shed) – as the cold will encourage them to hibernate
• Away from food and water – so other animals aren’t encouraged to wander in
• Soft bedding – like soft hay, or newspaper. Do not use any wire flooring as they have very sensitive feet!
• Minimal human contact – it would be dangerous if they start to become unnaturally tame
• Predator proof – if outside, a solid wooden box will be a good idea!

Food:

Their natural diet consists of bugs and grubs, this would be best for them. If you don’t have a lot of bugs in your garden, you can offer them wet or dry dog or cat food. Make sure they have plenty of water and no milk as they are lactose intolerant animals.

If you leave food out for other hedgehogs, keep the food somewhere covered so other animals (especially big predators) can’t squeeze in. A good sign that you’re leaving enough food for all your visitors is a little bit left in the bowl each morning.

 

How to encourage hedgehogs in your garden:

Hedgehog populations are declining, now at less than 1 million, so it is a great idea to try to increase these numbers

• Encourage more insects – building insect homes will mean more food for hedgehogs
• Have hedgehog homes in your garden – having a safe space for them to stay whenever they want will be great!
• Cut holes in your fence – this allows them to wander around your garden and hunt for more food
• Make exits in ponds and lakes – any body of water is dangerous as hedgehogs will struggle to climb out, adding some steps or a ramp will do the trick
• Avoid pesticides – if you are using insect killers hedgehogs can end up ingesting them, so be careful

 

----> Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, Nate.