Check how you can help these wonderful creatures
These are some photos Richard Humphrey took of a hedgehog that emerged from hibernation in his garden today - it was a bit groggy! He used a zoom lens so didn’t have to get too close and disturb it. He added some water and hog food which it was very thankful for. It then soon disappeared into the undergrowth left specifically for wildlife.
From mid-March hedgehogs will be coming out of hibernation. Usually the males emerge first reacting to the length of daylight. A newly emerged hog can seem a bit wobbly and dozy for a few days - it’s not surprising since it will have lost 25% of its body weight during hibernation!
They quickly need to eat and drink and this is where we can help. The best foods to provide are: - Meat-based cat or dog food - Specially-made hedgehog food - Cat biscuits - A shallow dish of water is also very important
The following foods should be avoided when feeding hedgehogs: - Bread and milk (hogs are lactose intolerant so milk can make them ill. Bread has little nutritional value) - Mealworms (thought to cause health problems when eaten in large quantities)
How else can you help hedgehogs?
You can help hogs further by making your garden attractive to their invertebrate prey. Allowing areas to become overgrown or adding a pond, log pile or compost heap will provide habitat. Birds and other wildlife that feed on these minibeasts will benefit too.
As well as providing food, it’s important to ensure hedgehogs can easily access your garden. An individual hog can range over a mile in a single evening, but when gardens are surrounded by impenetrable walls and fencing it becomes difficult for them to move around. A space of just 13 x 13cm is enough for any hog to get in and out of your garden.
Hedgehogs also need sheltered spaces to sleep during the day and hibernate through the winter. Overgrown patches, compost heaps and log piles can all be used by resting hogs. Another option is to buy or build a hedgehog house. Place the house in a quiet, shaded corner of your garden to have the best chance of a hog taking up residence.
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