Page 3. Fast hoggy facts
Page 4. What do hedgehogs eat?
Page 5. How can you help hedgehogs in your garden?
Page 6. Teach yourself to ‘un-garden’
They’re snuffly, cute and loveable, they’re a little bit weird and completely wonderful; but when was the last time you saw a hedgehog?
Though they’re one of the UK’s best-loved mammals, these once-common garden visitors are disappearing from under our very noses. In fact, in 2024, their conservation status on the IUCN Red List was updated to ‘Near Threatened’ due to ongoing declines.
While recent research offers a glimmer of hope for urban hogs, with their numbers appearing to stabilise, they are still vulnerable and rural hedgehog populations continue to teeter on the edge. So, what can we do to help? Our guide takes a look at the small actions we can take on our doorsteps to give this much-loved species a lifeline.
Though hedgehogs are often described as ‘the gardener’s friend’ due to a penchant for slugs, these slimy molluscs don’t actually make up the bulk of a hog’s diet - in fact, slugs and snails can carry lungworm which can be fatal to hedgehogs, so it’s best to encourage their main food sources of beetles, caterpillars, earthworms and other invertebrates into your garden so they have plenty to choose from.
Below are just some of the invertebrates that hedgehogs eat.
Gardens are crucial for hedgehogs, linking up fragmented habitats and feeding grounds with space where they can safely hunt, hibernate and nest. However, the UK’s gardens are turning into poorer and poorer homes for wildlife.
Pesticides, herbicides and insecticides mean there are fewer invertebrates for hedgehogs to eat. Hogs’ feeding and roaming grounds are being hemmed in by roads, building developments, fences and walls, and more gardens are concreted or decked over.
Potential nesting and hibernation sites are being removed by overtidy garden management, while intensive agriculture has created more exposed fields that leave hedgehogs vulnerable to predators and give them fewer places to find food.
Thankfully, by making some simple changes, you can make your space hedgehog-friendly and give them the helping hand they need.
harder to get hold of, while mild winters can wake some hogs up from hibernation only for them to find there are few insects about.
The best supplementary foods to leave out in your garden are specially-formulated hedgehog food, high-quality meat-based cat or dog food, or dry cat biscuits. Stay away from bread and milk, as these can make them poorly. Fresh water is the only thing you should give hedgehogs to drink.
Make sure to regularly clean all food and water dishes to avoid the spread of any illnesses!
You may be tempted to leave Halloween pumpkins out for your local wildlife after spooky season has ended, but this can make hedgehogs very poorly, leading to dehydration. This can be lifethreatening, especially during the autumn season when they are preparing for hibernation.
Ifyoufindahedgehogthatyoususpecttobesi injured,getintouchwithyourlocalwildliferesc soonaspossible.
We’re working tirelessly with local landowners and communities to help turn around the fortunes of hedgehogs and other wildlife. We want pesticides to be phased out, we want to see farming and nature working in harmony and we believe that wilder gardens and urban areas are better for both wildlife and people. You can help us make this a reality.
Become a member today and help us continue fighting for our region’s precious wildlife and wild places, including 40 nature reserves which we manage as safe havens for wildlife.
Adopt a hedgehog and you’ll be supporting vital conservation work, helping protect and restore habitats that hedgehogs and other wildlife depend on. You’ll also receive an adoption pack that you can enjoy or gift to a loved one.
www.lancswt.org.uk