Hedgehogs

Quick Links

Helping Hedgehogs
I’ve found a hedgehog, what do I do?
How can I help hedgehogs in my garden?
What should I feed a hedgehog?
I’ve seen a hedgehog out during the day. Is it in trouble?
What about small hedgehogs in autumn?
Do hedgehogs hibernate?
I disturbed a hibernating hedgehog. What should I do?
Can I move a hedgehog’s nest?
I have a hedgehog house. When should I clean it?
How can I make my garden hedgehog friendly?
Hedgehog hazards to look out for
What if a hedgehog is injured?
Baby hedgehogs – what should I do?
Can I keep a hedgehog in my garden?
Hedgehog Facts
Hedgehogs need our help

Helping Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s most loved wild animals – and our gardens can be incredibly important to them.

From providing a safe place to forage and nest, to making sure there is fresh water available, there are lots of simple things you can do to help hedgehogs thrive.

But hedgehogs can also get into trouble. If you find a hedgehog that is injured, unwell, unusually small or behaving strangely, please don’t wait and see. Getting the right advice quickly can make all the difference.

Not sure if a hedgehog needs help? Call our 24-hour helpline on 01844 292292. Our team can talk you through what to do..

I’ve found a hedgehog – what should I do?

Before picking up a hedgehog, take a moment to assess the situation.

A hedgehog out during the day

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so they normally sleep during daylight hours.
A hedgehog that is walking around in daylight, lying exposed on a lawn or appearing weak, wobbly, cold or injured is likely to need help.

There is one important exception: female hedgehogs may occasionally be seen out during the day in summer while gathering food or nesting material for their young. If she looks bright, healthy and purposeful, she may not need rescuing.

If you’re unsure, call us on 01844 292292. We can help you decide whether the hedgehog needs to come into care.

How to safely pick up a hedgehog

If a hedgehog does need rescuing:

1. Put on thick gardening gloves.
2. Gently scoop the hedgehog up with both hands, supporting it around the middle.
3. Place it in a high-sided cardboard box lined with newspaper or a towel.
4. Give it a small towel or tea towel to hide underneath.
5. Keep the box somewhere quiet and indoors.
6. If the hedgehog feels cold, place a warm – not hot – hot water bottle or drinks bottle wrapped in a towel beside it, so it can move away from the heat if it wants to.
7. If there is likely to be a delay before it reaches a rescue centre, offer a shallow dish of fresh water and a small amount of meaty cat or dog food.
Never give a hedgehog milk or bread.

If you are local to Tiggywinkles, (within 20 miles of Haddenham) you can bring wildlife to us 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – there is no need to call first.

To find your nearest rescue centre, check www.helpwildlife.co.uk.
Need advice? Call 01844 292292.

How can I help hedgehogs in my garden?

The best hedgehog garden is not necessarily the neatest one!
Hedgehogs need places to forage, hide, nest and travel. A few simple changes can make your garden much more wildlife-friendly.

Do:
– Leave some areas of your garden wild so hedgehogs can find insects and other natural food.
– Leave fallen leaves, logs and natural vegetation where possible.
– Put out a shallow dish of fresh water, especially during hot or dry weather.
– Offer a small amount of meaty cat or dog food as a supplementary food source.
– Create a hedgehog-friendly shelter or hedgehog house.
– Make sure hedgehogs can move between gardens by creating a small gap in fences or walls.
– Check lawns, long grass and vegetation carefully before mowing or strimming.
– Check bonfires thoroughly before lighting them.
– Cover drains, ponds and other places where a hedgehog could become trapped.

Don’t:
– Give hedgehogs milk or bread.
– Use slug pellets or unnecessary garden chemicals.
– Leave netting, string or other garden materials lying on the ground.
– Leave open rubbish bags or containers where hedgehogs could crawl inside.
– Use cat or dog flea treatments on hedgehogs.
– Leave uncovered ponds or pools without a way for animals to escape.
– Pick up healthy hedgehogs simply because you see them in your garden at night.

What should I feed a hedgehog?

Hedgehogs are naturally insectivores, so the best food for them is the insects and other invertebrates they find themselves.

You can encourage natural food by:
– letting part of your garden grow wild
– planting native plants and shrubs
– leaving fallen leaves
– creating log piles
– providing areas of natural cover
– avoiding pesticides and slug pellets.

You can also offer a small supplementary meal of meaty cat or dog food. A few plain cat or dog biscuits can also be offered.

Food should supplement a hedgehog’s natural diet rather than replace it.

Water is essential

Always provide a shallow dish of fresh water, particularly during hot, dry weather.

Never give hedgehogs milk. They are lactose intolerant and milk can make them very unwell.

Put food and water out around dusk, when hedgehogs are beginning to emerge. 

I’ve seen a hedgehog out during the day. Is it in trouble?

Possibly – and it is important to check…

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so a hedgehog out in daylight should generally be treated with caution.

A hedgehog is more likely to need rescuing if it is:
– lying still or exposed in the open
– wandering aimlessly
– weak, wobbly or unable to walk properly
– visibly injured
– cold to the touch
– surrounded by flies
– obviously underweight or very small.

A healthy-looking female hedgehog seen in the late afternoon during summer may simply be looking for food or nesting material for her young.

Not sure? Don’t guess. Call our helpline on 01844 292292 and we’ll help you assess the situation..

What about small hedgehogs in autumn?

Late-born baby hedgehogs can struggle to build up enough reserves before winter.
A hedgehog that is very small, thin or weak in late autumn may need help before the weather becomes colder.

Rather than relying on weight alone, please contact a wildlife rescue centre for advice if you are concerned about a small hedgehog.

In particular, seek advice if a young hedgehog is:
– noticeably smaller than other hedgehogs
– out during the daytime
– thin or weak
– not eating
– struggling to walk
– found in cold weather.

You can help healthy hedgehogs prepare for winter by providing plenty of natural food, supplementary meaty dog food and fresh water.

Concerned about a small hedgehog? Call Tiggywinkles on 01844 292292.

Do hedgehogs hibernate?

Hedgehogs usually hibernate during the colder months, but there is no fixed date.
Depending on the weather and the individual animal, hibernation may begin from late autumn or winter and can be interrupted by milder weather.

Hedgehogs wake periodically during hibernation and may emerge to look for food, particularly during milder spells.

If you see a hedgehog during winter, don’t automatically assume it needs rescuing. Look at its condition and behaviour.

If it is weak, thin, injured or behaving unusually, contact a wildlife rescue centre for advice.

I’ve disturbed a hibernating hedgehog. What should I do?

Don’t panic! If you accidentally uncover a hibernating hedgehog, gently replace the nesting material and cover it with plenty of dry leaves.

Try not to handle or move the hedgehog unless there is an immediate danger.

A hedgehog uses valuable energy reserves when it wakes from hibernation, so unnecessary disturbance should be avoided.

You can leave some fresh water and a little meaty dog food nearby in case it wakes and needs to feed.

Can I move a hedgehog’s nest?

Usually, no.

If the nest is in a safe place, it is best to leave it completely undisturbed.

If you are carrying out work that could damage a nest – for example moving a shed, clearing vegetation or dismantling a compost heap – stop work and contact a wildlife rescue centre for advice.

I have a hedgehog house. When should I clean it?

Hedgehog houses can be used for sleeping, nesting or hibernation, so it is important not to disturb them unnecessarily.

If you want to clean a hedgehog house, early spring is generally the safest time, before it is likely to be used as a maternity nest.

Check it carefully after dark, when a hedgehog is more likely to have left to forage.

If it is occupied, leave it alone.

If it is empty, remove the old nesting material and replace it with some fresh, dry bedding.

How do I make my garden hedgehog-friendly?

A hedgehog-friendly garden doesn’t need to be complicated.

Give them somewhere to live

Place a hedgehog house somewhere quiet and sheltered, ideally under a hedge, shrub or other natural cover.

Leave fallen leaves and natural materials nearby so hedgehogs can collect their own nesting material.

Give them somewhere to eat

Put supplementary food (meaty cat or dog food) in a quiet area of the garden, away from the entrance to a hedgehog’s nest.

Give them a way through

Hedgehogs can travel surprisingly long distances at night. A small gap at the bottom of a fence can make a huge difference.

A gap of around 13cm x 13cm is enough for a hedgehog to pass through while helping keep larger animals out.

Creating a network of connected gardens gives hedgehogs much more space to forage.

Hedgehog hazards to look out for

Our hospital sees hedgehogs injured by many of the everyday things found in gardens.

Bonfires

Hedgehogs love piles of leaves, twigs and other dry material because they make excellent nesting sites.

Never assume a bonfire is empty.

Build your bonfire as close as possible to the time you intend to light it and carefully check it for wildlife immediately beforehand. If possible, move the pile to a new location before lighting it.

We sadly see hedgehogs arrive with horrific burns and smoke inhalation injuries after becoming trapped in bonfires.

Lawnmowers and strimmers

Hedgehogs can hide in long grass and vegetation, particularly during the day.

Before mowing or strimming, walk through the area carefully and check for hedgehogs.

Take particular care around long grass, hedges and areas of dense vegetation.

Garden netting and string

Loose netting and string can become tangled around a hedgehog’s legs, body or spines.

Keep netting at least 30cm above the ground and secure any loose ends.

If you find a hedgehog tangled in netting, don’t simply cut it free and release it. Injuries caused by tight ligatures may continue to develop even after the animal has been freed.

Take the hedgehog to a wildlife rescue centre for assessment.

Ponds and swimming pools

Hedgehogs can swim, but they can drown if they cannot climb out.

Make sure ponds and pools have a shallow area, gently sloping edge or escape ramp. Even a simple ramp can save a life.

Drains and holes

Cover drains, inspection chambers and other holes where a hedgehog could become trapped.

If you find a hedgehog trapped somewhere, don’t try to pull it out by its spines. Call a wildlife rescue centre for advice.

Sheds and outbuildings

Hedgehogs often nest underneath sheds and other outbuildings.

Before demolishing, moving or lifting a shed, check carefully for wildlife.

If you find a nest containing young, leave it undisturbed and seek advice.

Compost heaps

Compost heaps make attractive nesting sites.

Take care when turning or emptying compost, particularly during spring and summer when hedgehogs may have young.

If you discover a nest, stop work and leave it alone. The mother will normally return once the area is quiet.

Rubbish

Hedgehogs can become trapped in cans, yoghurt pots, plastic containers and other rubbish.

Always clear up litter and make sure bins and rubbish bags are securely closed.

Cutting or squashing containers before putting them in the bin can prevent animals becoming trapped.

Pesticides and slug pellets

Slug pellets and other garden chemicals can harm hedgehogs and other wildlife.

The safest option is to avoid unnecessary chemicals altogether and use wildlife-friendly alternatives wherever possible.

A healthy garden full of natural predators can help keep pests under control.

Paint, oil and other liquids

Hedgehogs are curious animals and may investigate open containers.

Keep paint, oil, chemicals and other liquids securely covered.

If a hedgehog becomes covered in oil, paint, tar or another substance, do not try to clean it yourself. Take it to a wildlife rescue centre as soon as possible.

Dogs

Dogs can seriously injure hedgehogs.

If your dog finds something interesting in the garden, investigate rather than allowing it to chase or attack.

If your dog has picked up or bitten a hedgehog, the hedgehog should be assessed by a wildlife rescue centre even if there are no obvious injuries.

What if a hedgehog is injured?

Hedgehogs can suffer injuries from roads, dogs, garden equipment, netting, fences and other hazards.

Some injuries are not immediately obvious, so any hedgehog that has been hit by a vehicle, attacked by a dog or become tangled should be assessed by a wildlife professional.

If you find an injured hedgehog:

• carefully place it in a cardboard box
• keep it warm and quiet
• provide a towel for it to hide under
• don’t attempt to treat the injury yourself
• contact a wildlife rescue centre as soon as possible.

Tiggywinkles is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you’re local to us, you can bring an injured hedgehog straight to the Hospital.

Call our helpline on 01844 292292 for advice.

Baby hedgehogs – what should I do?

Baby hedgehogs are called urchins.

A mother hedgehog can have several babies in a litter, usually born during the warmer months. She raises them in a maternity nest made from leaves and other natural materials.

The most important thing to remember is:

If you find a nest of baby hedgehogs, leave it alone.

Don’t touch the babies or move the nest. The mother may be nearby foraging and will normally return once the area is quiet.

When does a baby hedgehog need help?

An urchin found outside its nest may need rescuing, particularly if it is alone, cold, weak, injured or making a high-pitched piping sound.

Don’t put a baby hedgehog back into a nest yourself and don’t place it with another hedgehog.If you’ve found a baby hedgehog, call us on 01844 292292 before taking action.

Can I keep a hedgehog in my garden?

Hedgehogs are wild animals and need much more space than a single garden can provide.

They are naturally nomadic and may travel up to 2 miles during the night in search of food, mates and suitable nesting sites.

A garden is a wonderful place for a healthy wild hedgehog to visit but they are wild animals and should not be kept or treated as pets, however tame or familiar they may appear.

At Tiggywinkles, hedgehogs that are fit and healthy are rehabilitated and released back into the wild whenever possible.

Hedgehog facts

Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus

What do hedgehogs eat?

Hedgehogs are insectivores. They naturally eat insects and other invertebrates including beetles, worms, caterpillars and snails.

When are hedgehogs active?

Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, emerging after dark to forage.

How do hedgehogs protect themselves?

When threatened, a hedgehog curls into a tight ball, using its spines as protection.

What are their spines made of?

Hedgehog spines are made from keratin – the same protein found in human hair and fingernails.

How many babies do hedgehogs have?

A typical litter contains around four to six urchins, although litter sizes can vary.

How long do babies stay with their mother?

Young hedgehogs usually become independent at around eight weeks old.

Do all hedgehogs hibernate?

No. Hibernation varies between individual hedgehogs and depends heavily on weather conditions.

Hedgehogs need our help

Hedgehogs face an increasing number of challenges, from habitat loss and roads to garden hazards and a lack of natural food.

Every year, thousands of sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs arrive at Tiggywinkles needing specialist care.

Our veterinary team, animal carers and volunteers work around the clock to give them the best possible chance of returning to the wild.

Your support helps us rescue, treat and rehabilitate hedgehogs and the thousands of other wild animals brought through our doors.

Help us care for wildlife

Donate to Tiggywinkles today and help give a wild animal a second chance.

Need advice about a hedgehog?

If you’re worried about a hedgehog, don’t wait and see.

Our helpline team can help you work out whether a hedgehog needs rescuing and what you should do next.

Call 01844 292292

Tiggywinkles is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.