{"id":27074,"date":"2024-01-17T15:54:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-17T15:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/?p=27074"},"modified":"2024-01-22T13:25:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-22T13:25:09","slug":"hedgehogs-in-the-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moowy.co.uk\/hedgehogs-in-the-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do With Hedgehogs in Your Garden"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you spotted a hedgehog (or, even better, a family of hedgehogs) in your garden? Lucky you! You’ll probably want to know how to welcome them and protect this very important garden visitor.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

Because hedgehogs are a sign of the health of your garden\u2019s ecosystem, and we should definitely help them thrive. <\/p>

This article explores what to do with hedgehogs in your garden. <\/p>

Ready? Let\u2019s go!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>

What to do if you spot a hedgehog in your garden<\/h2>

If you see a hedgehog, you don’t necessarily need to do anything \u2014 ideally, leave it to its own devices. They’ll arrive in search of food, appearing nocturnally between April and September, hibernating in the winter. <\/p>

The hedgehog\u2019s calendar of action<\/h3>

Hedgehogs typically live between two and five years, hibernating during the winter, losing around a third of their body weight. So, when they are active, they must regain their strength before their mating season in May. <\/p>

This means that April to May is the prime feeding season to rebuild their energy and vigour. <\/p>

They begin building their litter once they’re back to strength in July. And once they’ve done their parenting for the year, they’ll build their winter nest, protecting them from predators and the elements during their hibernation. <\/p>

Hedgehogs are a protected species<\/h2>

There\u2019s nothing to fear from a hedgehog \u2014 in fact, hedgehogs have way more reason to fear us because their numbers are declining due to an increased loss of natural habitat. <\/p>

So, if you spot one of these prickly little creatures, you should not disturb them or try to catch them. Hedgehogs move very little during the day, so you\u2019ll only really spot them at night in your garden \u2014 this is how to protect them:<\/p>

How to protect a hedgehog<\/h2>

Hedgehogs are welcome in gardens because they eat many of the garden pests we try so hard to remove, such as slugs, beetles, and snails. <\/p>

So, be careful about laying out slug pellets because they can poison your friendly hedgehogs. <\/p>

We favour more natural ways of tackling slugs and snails<\/a>.<\/p>

Keeping a hedgehog warm<\/h3>
\"Leaves<\/figure>

Hedgehogs prefer sheltered garden corners. So, when your trees lose their leaves in the autumn, rake them into a mound in the corner, and you’ll create a pleasant, warm environment for a hedgehog’s home. <\/p>

Alternatively, you could buy a specially manufactured hedgehog house, but place them where they won\u2019t be disturbed by pets and children. <\/p>

According to the Hedgehog Shelter, every garden makes a suitable home for a hedgehog, provided it can come and go as it pleases. So, create a \u201chedgehog highway\u201d by leaving small gaps between your fencing to aid its entry and regress. <\/p>

Are pets a threat to hedgehogs?<\/h3>

If you\u2019re a cat owner, you don\u2019t have much to worry about because cats typically leave hedgehogs alone. However, dogs can attack, often coming out worse due to the hedgehog\u2019s spines. <\/p>

In general, dogs don\u2019t attack hedgehogs more than once \u2014 the spines usually teach them a lesson about leaving the hedgehogs be. <\/p>

Will mowing my lawn disturb nearby hedgehogs?<\/h3>

Be careful when mowing near or under bushes \u2014 check that there are no hedgehogs in hiding, and avoid cutting those areas if they’re nearby. <\/p>

Check for hedgehogs before cutting long grass, and cut initially to around 30cm before cutting any shorter. <\/p>

How to feed a hedgehog<\/h2>
\"A<\/figure>

If you have a lawn, you’re helping our hedgehog friends because paving over your garden means access to fewer slugs, worms, and snails, making unturfed outdoor spaces less hospitable.<\/p>

However, if you have paved your garden or would like to offer the hedgehogs some much-needed extra nourishment, the Wildlife Trust suggests laying out some plain kitten biscuits or wet, meat-based cat\/dog food. <\/p>

You can buy specially manufactured hedgehog food, but the Wildlife Trust suggests that the quality varies wildly because it\u2019s unregulated, unlike commercial pet foods. <\/p>

Do hedgehogs eat fruit?<\/h3>
\"A<\/figure>

The quick answer is yes \u2014 but they’re treats rather than typical diet fodder because of the high sugar content of some fruits, such as grapes and raisins. <\/p>

Hedgehogs are known to eat:<\/p>