Information in this section

1. Creating a safe environment
2. Feeding hedgehogs
3. Hedgehog nests
4. Hedgehogs out during the day
5. Juvenile hedgehogs
6. Hedgehog boxes
7. Homing hedgehogs over winter

General information about hedgehogs in your garden

Hedgehogs are nocturnal mammals. They may visit many gardens in one night, foraging for caterpillars, worms, beetles, slugs, snails and any other food they can find. They may travel several miles in one night searching for food or, perhaps, a mate. As dawn approaches they usually return to their nest to sleep until it is dark again.

The hedgehog nest consists of garden debris, grass, leaves, pieces of paper and so forth. It is usually quite a large construction - over a foot long - and is often located under a hedge, shed, pile of rubbish or brambles. In winter, when nights get colder and their food is not so easily available, they will hibernate in their nest until conditions improve.

If a hedgehog is slightly frightened, it will raise it's spines to give it some protection. Sometimes it may run away, as they can be quite nimble! But, if very frightened, it will curl into a tight impenetrable ball. Hedgehog spines are actually specialised hairs which, when raised, are quite sharp.

You can encourage hedgehogs to visit your garden more often by placing out food, particularly when the ground is hard, such as in times of drought or hard frosts. However, it is important that you try to make sure your garden safe for them first. If there are no hedgehogs in your area, there may be a good reason for this (for example, a nearby badger sett, insufficient food or nest building materials, or too much damp). If you do not see hedgehogs, it is not advisable to introduce them to your area, as whatever discouraged or killed the wild hedgehogs may do the same to any that you release.

Never remove a healthy hedgehog from the wild, as it may be a mother with a litter of babies back in the nest awaiting her return. Without a mother, the hoglets will perish. Sometimes well-meaning folk move a hedgehog from their front garden to the back garden, where it is thought to be safer, but again this could result in any hoglets being left to starve.

That said, if you observe a hedgehog that is wobbling as it walks, appears injured, is particularly lethargic, is attracting the attention of flies, or is just lying for an extended period of time in an exposed position during the day time, please contact us immediately on 01243 641672 (or your nearest wildlife hospital).

Creating A Safe Environment

By being aware of some of the dangers that hedgehogs may face in your garden, you can try to minimise those dangers by taking the following simple precautions:

• Bonfires: Check piles of rubbish just before setting light to them. Do not build bonfires in advance of the time when you will light them!
• Pampas grass: A favourite spot for hedgehogs to make their nests. Some gardeners burn or strim their pampas grass. Please check very carefully to make sure that there's not a hedgehog asleep inside.
• Netting: Keep all netting between about 9 to 12 inches (23-30 cm) above the ground. This enables the hedgehog to go under the net, rather than to become entangled whilst trying to push it's way through.
• Ponds: Ensure that there is an escape route for anything falling into the pond. A sloping ramp or green plastic coated wire netting going down to the water would suffice. Try to keep the pond topped up so that these escape routes could be reached and any thirsty hedgehogs would be less likely to topple in. In wet weather, anything which collects water could become dangerous, for example: children's paddling pools, sandpits, buckets and flower pots.
• Holes: Cover any drain holes and provide escape routes from deep holes like bean trenches, car inspection pits, newly dug but sill empty ponds, fence post holes, foundation holes and so forth.
• Strimming: We see some horrific injuries caused by strimmers. If you really have no alternative but to use a strimmer, then it is vitally important to check long grass and foliage beforehand. The best way to do this is to carefully rake through long grass. Dense undergrowth should be rigorously checked with a stick prior to strimming. Always keep your eyes open for animals; Be Aware!. Many people do not consider that there may be hedgehogs or other wildlife residing in the long grass before using their strimmer. Please help to reduce the number of accidents by spreading the word. Remember: If you really must use a strimmer, check for animals first, then proceed with caution.
• Garden Tidying: Check that there are no hedgehogs under piles of rubbish that you are clearing, or sheds you are moving. Check inside open bags of compost or peat before you start work. Check compost heaps before you push a fork into them. Check sheds, garages, greenhouses, and any places that are normally left open at night before you close their doors for any prolonged period of time (before going on holiday for instance).
• Rubbish: Keep bags of rubbish out of a hedgehog's reach, to ensure it does not go inside and get left out for the bin men! Make sure all your rubbish is disposed of safely; hedgehogs get caught in twine, four-ring can holders, plastic yogurt cartons and even narrow necked bottles.
• Chemicals: When using and storing any chemical or slug pellets, take care not poison hedgehogs, or indeed any other wildlife, pets or children. See if you can find a safer alternative.

Once you're confident that you have a relatively safe environment for a hedgehog, you can then encourage them to visit more often. Make a hedgehog box, or provide piles of leaves or straw under bushes, sheds, or in pampas grass, for them to nest in. Put out food and water, both in dry weather, and in the autumn and winter when they are trying to put on enough fat to survive hibernation.

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Feeding Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs will eat almost anything, from dog food to household scraps. Dog food is usually well liked, but do not offer cat food, as this is too high in protein for hedgehogs. Also, try small helpings of cake; biscuits; pastry; sultanas; bananas and other fruits; cooked potato and other cooked vegetables; baked beans; fish fingers; raw liver or mince; rice; pasta; mealworms and dried dog food. Both tinned and dried food especially for hedgehogs are commercially available. The crunchy cat biscuits or puppy complete food is also of benefit to the hedgehog's teeth.

Never give milk to a hedgehog, because it may cause stomach upsets. If cats try to eat the food, try putting the dish under a shed or low object so that the cats cannot gain access to it. Some hedgehogs will put their noses under the rims of saucers and flip them over, so where possible use a straight sided dish. When you are putting out the food, try not to use a torch; if they associate torch light with food, they might also associate motorbike or car headlights with meals-on-wheels, which is obviously not a great idea!

It's also very important to leave out clean fresh water, which is something that is all too often overlooked.

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Nests

If you disturb a nest housing an adult hedgehog, replace the nesting material. The hedgehog will then either repair the nest, or build another elsewhere. If the disturbed hedgehog is hibernating and wakes up, leave a dish of dog food and some water each night until it starts to hibernate again. If there are babies in the nest, replace the nesting material as before, whilst trying to handle the nest as little as possible so as not to leave your scent on it. Keep an eye on the nest to see if mum returns. If there is no sign of her by the next morning, ring Brent Lodge (or your local wildlife hospital) for advice. Do not allow friends or children to uncover the nest for a peep; if the mother returns, she may abandon or even eat her young if she is further disturbed.

Sometimes the hoglets will leave the nest for a nose around. If a hoglet snuffles around looking for food but then returns to the nest, there is probably nothing to worry about. However, if it is crying; or if it's eyes are still closed; or if it is wobbly; or if it feels cold; or if there is no evidence of a nest nearby; or if it is attracting the attention of flies, contact us for immediate advice on 01243 641672. You can also contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890 801.

Before ringing for advice about out-of-nest hoglets, it would be helpful if you check to see if there is a nest nearby. If there is a nest near the top of a slope, it is possible that the hoglet may have rolled out of the nest by accident. However, do not disturb the nest before you have sought advice. Also, check to see if the hoglet's eyes are open and, if possible, weigh it (both will give us an idea of it's age). Before handling the hoglet, don a pair of gloves; this will prevent your scent from being transferred onto the hoglet, and is more hygienic for you. Always wash your hands after handling any wild animal.

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Autumn Juveniles

During the autumn weeks (from around mid-September onwards), please be on the lookout for small hedgehogs that might be visiting your garden. These hedgehogs, known as autumn juveniles, are big enough to be away from their mothers but too small to survive hibernation. They are from litters that were born late in the breeding season.

If these autumn juveniles do not gain enough weight before the cold weather kicks in, they will probably die. They need to weigh at the very least 450 grams (1lb), preferably 600 grams (22oz), in order to have sufficient fat reserves to sleep through the winter. Putting out meat based dog food can be a lifesaver. Water can also be provided, but please do not leave out milk as this can cause stomach upsets.

If the hedgehog weighs much under 600 grams (22oz) when the weather turns starts to turn cold, it is vital to intervene immediately. You should pick the hedgehog up using gardening gloves (or an old towel), and place in a high-sided cardboard box (they are very good climbers even when ill or injured!). Put plenty of newspaper in the bottom, provide some bedding (for example, a towel, sweatshirt or similar), and take the box inside. Then contact Brent Lodge on 01243 641672 for further instruction, as the hedgehog will need to be admitted to the wildlife hospital as soon as possible.

If you need to keep the hedgehog for any length of time prior to transportation to Brent Lodge, you may provide meat-based dog food and a small bowl of fresh water (but remember, not milk!). If the weather is cold and hypothermia is suspected (an indication of hypothermia is the hedgehog wobbling as it walks), place the hedgehog on a well-wrapped hot water bottle. Keep a towel draped over the hedgehog to keep the heat in. It is vital that the hot water bottle is kept warm, as if it's allowed to go cold it will draw the heat away from the hedgehog.

If you're not local to Brent Lodge (West Sussex, England), then rather than contact us, please telephone the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890 801 for details of your local hedgehog carer.

Hedgehogs out during the day

Regardless of age or size, hedgehogs are not usually seen out in the day, so if they are it could mean they're either desperate for food or ill. If it appears to be searching for food or collecting nesting material and behaving normally, it may well be fine to leave it alone; Just put out a dish of food and fresh water. But if it wobbles, appears injured, is attracting the attention of flies or is lying in an exposed position, you need to intervene.

If it's winter time and the hedgehog appears uncoordinated and wobbly as it walks (as though it is drunk), or appears to be "sunbathing", the chances are it is hypothermic and needs urgent assistance.

These poorly hedgehogs should be taken inside (you may use an old towel to pick it up) and placed in a high-sided cardboard box. Put plenty of newspaper in the bottom and provide the hedgehog with some bedding (for example, a towel). Check it for injuries, fly eggs and maggots (these will need to be removed).

If it's winter time and hypothermia is suspected, place the hedgehog on a well-wrapped hot water bottle. Keep a towel draped over the hedgehog to keep the heat in. It is vital that the hot water bottle is kept warm, as if it's allowed to go cold it will draw the heat away from the hedgehog. Offer food (meaty dog food) and water, and contact Brent Lodge on 01243 641672 (or your local wildlife rehabilitator) as soon as possible.

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Hedgehog Boxes

There are many designs which can be used to make a hedgehog nest box. The image displayed here (click it to open a larger version in a new browser window) illustrates one such plan (information reproduced by kind permission of Hedgehog Helpline, Regd. Charity No 1046156). Other examples include: Breeze blocks with a paving slab on top; a plastic swing bin on its side; an upside down pet basket.

Commercially made hedgehog boxes are also available. Siting the house depends on the garden and from which direction the weather most frequently comes. For example, in hot weather the box should be sited where it is shady. In the winter, it should be protected from the prevailing winds. If a hedgehog has previously nested in your garden this may help you to decide where to site the box.

Filling the box with dry leaves and/or straw means that the hedgehog would have less work to do in building it's nest. Do not keep looking to see if a hedgehog is in residence. You could, however, place a small object at the entrance and check to see if it gets pushed away; if so, it may indicate that an animal of some sort is using the nest.

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Homing hedgehogs over winter

From the start of autumn many small hedgehogs are admitted to the Brent Lodge hospital with signs of dehydration and hunger. After a full examination and the removal of all internal and external parasites, the hedgehogs then have to be housed until they can be released in the spring. However, space at the hospital is limited, so you could help by taking care of one or two hedgehogs until around mid April, when the threat of frost is gone. Please contact us for more information about fostering a hedgehog over the winter.

Further information

Further hedgehog information is available from our friends at the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.