A hedgehog in your garden is a welcome sign, indicating a healthy environment that supports local wildlife. These small, spiny creatures are common, nocturnal garden visitors, primarily searching for food and shelter to sustain their nightly travels. Their presence is beneficial, as their natural diet consists largely of garden invertebrates like beetles, caterpillars, and slugs, offering a form of natural pest control. Your response should focus on calmly observing and providing a safe, supportive habitat for this fascinating mammal.
Initial Observation and Safety Checks
Observe the hedgehog from a distance without intervention. A healthy hedgehog is typically only active after dusk and throughout the night, often traveling up to a mile in search of food. If you observe it moving purposefully at twilight or during the night, foraging actively with a steady gait, it is likely healthy and should be left alone.
A hedgehog seen out during full daylight hours is often a sign of distress. However, females may forage briefly while nursing their young, or an individual may be moving between safe nesting sites. A healthy hedgehog seen in the day will be moving quickly and appear purposeful. If you must handle the hedgehog—only do so if it is clearly injured or in distress—always wear thick gardening gloves to protect yourself from their sharp spines and potential parasites.
Creating a Safe and Welcoming Habitat
You can proactively modify your garden to provide resources and remove hazards. Hedgehogs require supplementary food, especially during periods of scarcity like dry summers or pre-hibernation autumn months. The most suitable food is meat-based wet dog or cat food, or plain, meaty cat kibble.
Avoid offering bread or milk, as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and these items can cause severe digestive upset and dehydration. Always place a shallow dish of fresh water out, especially during warm weather. To prevent accidental harm, cover any open drains or narrow access points. Ensure garden netting is stored well above ground level, as hedgehogs can easily become entangled. If you have a pond, add a simple ramp made of stone or wood to provide an easy exit point and prevent drowning.
Providing shelter offers a safe place for nesting and hibernation. Simple log piles, dense overgrown patches, or purpose-built hedgehog houses placed in a quiet, undisturbed corner offer suitable refuge. Be cautious when tidying leaf piles or compost heaps, as these are favorite nesting spots. A simple check with a pitchfork before moving material can prevent accidental injury.
Identifying and Assisting a Hedgehog in Distress
Immediate intervention is necessary if you observe a hedgehog exhibiting clear signs of illness or injury. Definitive signs of distress include visible injuries, such as a wound or limp, or behavioral anomalies like staggering, walking in circles, or appearing wobbly and lethargic. A hedgehog that does not attempt to roll into a protective ball when approached is also in a weakened state and needs help.
Using thick gloves, gently place the hedgehog into a high-sided box lined with newspaper or an old towel. The animal must be warmed immediately, as sick or injured hedgehogs are prone to hypothermia. A plastic bottle filled with warm (not boiling) tap water, wrapped in a towel and placed at one end of the box, provides a safe heat source.
Contact a local wildlife rescue center, a veterinarian experienced with wildlife, or a hedgehog-specific charity. Attempting to provide long-term care yourself is not recommended, as it can be detrimental to the animal’s recovery and may violate local wildlife protection laws.
Promoting Long-Term Coexistence
Sustaining a hedgehog-friendly garden requires year-round awareness of their needs and movements. Creating a “Hedgehog Highway”—a small opening, approximately 13×13 cm, at the base of fences or walls—is a significant action. This opening allows the hedgehog to move freely between neighboring gardens, which is vital since their foraging area can span over a mile each night.
In autumn, be mindful that hedgehogs are consuming calories to build up fat reserves for hibernation. If you see a small hedgehog, roughly the size of an apple, still active in late autumn, it may be too underweight to survive the winter and requires rescue.