Hedgehog Information
Here, you will find lots of innformation about hedgehogs, being hedgehog friendly, and hopefully having hedgehogs visiting your garden! So, read on!
How do I get hedgehogs in my garden?
DO NOT TAKE HEDGEHOGS FROM THE WILD FOR YOUR GARDEN! It could have babies etc. If you want a hedgehog for your garden, your garden may be a good release site. Ask your local carer if s/he will release hedgehogs there. But, you can't use pesticides etc. if you do so.
How can I make my garden safe for hedgehogs?
Simple. Do NOT use slug pellets, insecticides, artificial fertilisers etc., chemicals etc. Keep shed doors shut, and poisons out of reach. But, if you have had your shed door open, check it before you shut it, a hedgehog could be asleep! Also, check bonfires before lighting. Ideally, move them to a new site before lighting, looking for hedgehogs. Check for hedgehogs as well before mowing the lawn, strimming, lighting fireworks etc. For more tips, visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (see the links page).
What do I do if I find a hedgehog injured/out at day?
Take it immediately indoors, give it cat/dog/hedgehog food and some water in a bowl, a hot water bottle (even if it is a hot day because hedgehogs can become hypothermic very quickly and easily) and contact a hedgehog carer (look on the British Hedgehog Preservation Society's website for their list of carers). Hedgehogs do NOT sunbathe.
If you disturb a nest, hopefully the mother will return. If the entrance is obvious, put something outside, but allowing her to get in, so that if it has moved in the morning, she would have probably returned. Put food close to the house, but not too near, otherwise it is alerting predators that there is a nest. Contact a hedgehog carer. If she doesn't return in a night, then perhaps you should contact your hedgehog carer, and ask what to do. It might be that the babies are orphans, and that they have to be hand-reared by a carer.
AUTUMN JUVENILES:
You must take it indoors immediately, give it food and water, and PLENTY of warmth. You MUST weigh it, and contact a hedgehog carer. If you aren't prepared to weigh it, ask a hedgehog carer near you to do so.
Look out for:
fly eggs/yellow egglike things on the hedgehog
Wounds
Blood in faeces
Blood in urine
Circling
Raspy breathing/rapid breathing
Skinnyness
Dull eyes
Panting
Bumping into things
etc.
REMEMBER: HEDGEHOGS CAN DIE OVERNIGHT, SO PLEASE CONTACT A CARER AS SOON AS YOU CAN!
If you disturb a nest, hopefully the mother will return. If the entrance is obvious, put something outside, but allowing her to get in, so that if it has moved in the morning, she would have probably returned. Put food close to the house, but not too near, otherwise it is alerting predators that there is a nest. Contact a hedgehog carer. If she doesn't return in a night, then perhaps you should contact your hedgehog carer, and ask what to do. It might be that the babies are orphans, and that they have to be hand-reared by a carer.
AUTUMN JUVENILES:
You must take it indoors immediately, give it food and water, and PLENTY of warmth. You MUST weigh it, and contact a hedgehog carer. If you aren't prepared to weigh it, ask a hedgehog carer near you to do so.
Look out for:
fly eggs/yellow egglike things on the hedgehog
Wounds
Blood in faeces
Blood in urine
Circling
Raspy breathing/rapid breathing
Skinnyness
Dull eyes
Panting
Bumping into things
etc.
REMEMBER: HEDGEHOGS CAN DIE OVERNIGHT, SO PLEASE CONTACT A CARER AS SOON AS YOU CAN!