From the countryside to town and city gardens, our native hedgehogs are facing a serious threat to their existence. Now their breeding-season is upon us, we need to be extra-vigilant and make sure we take care of one of the UK’s best-loved and most iconic wild animals!
In just 20 years, the country’s hedgehog population has taken a nosedive, to the extent that we’ve lost at least a third of our previously ubiquitous British mammals in that period. Worse still, it’s estimated that around 70% of hedgehogs don’t make it beyond one year (State of Britain’s Hedgehogs Report, 2018).
One of the few non-domestic creatures capable of thriving amongst humans, it’s no surprise hedgehogs appear to be faring better in urban rather than rural environments. Happily, this means there’s a lot we can do in our gardens to encourage their proliferation. For example, better connecting urban and suburban areas will help the struggling species to survive.
Our hedgehogs are protected; it’s against the law to disrupt a hedgehog habitat, or even to move a hedgehog. Due care should therefore be taken when planning for – and building in – our gardens.
Being nocturnal, hedgehogs can move 2-3 miles during the night – they’re often hit by cars or attacked by predators.
Fencing and dense hedgerows can inhibit their roaming and breeding patterns, and they can also become trapped in boundary wires. One way to get around this problem is to create small gaps – 12cm is enough – to allow them passage.
In the garden, hedgehogs will appreciate piles of leaves and areas of overgrown vegetation where they can hide and be safe. You could even arrange some roof titles to create a dark, sheltered den where they can escape from the daytime brightness.
Hedgehogs do not like flies! Flies can lay eggs not just within a hedgehog’s spikes, but also around their eyes, with the resulting larvae capable of causing death.
During the growing-season, it’s important to be super-careful when using your lawnmower or grass-trimmer. Automatic robot mowers should never be used at night, as they can have a disastrous impact on hedgehogs when they’re at their most active.
Feeding Hedgehogs
As you’d expect from a wild animal, hedgehogs are excellent at foraging and fending for themselves. They’ll hoover-up your plant-destroying slugs and devour invasive greenery. Pesticides and slug pellets are toxic and can be lethal for hedgehogs. You can give them a helping hand by putting-out cat pellets; one of their favourite treats. It’s important to note that hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, so avoid milk at all costs, and instead leave them a bowl of water.
Hedgehogs’ prickly spikes make it unlikely that dogs will attack them, but barking, sniffing and pawing will definitely cause alarm and stress them to a degree that could be fatal.
This article was written with information from the britishhedgehogs.org.uk
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