Hedgehog awakening.

Did you see hedgehogs in your garden in the winter?

If so, that can be quite a privilege as hedgehog numbers have been drastically declining over recent years. We did seen signs of the them in the Flatford garden, (droppings mostly) but as volunteers are not there at night, we haven’t seen them in person!

            You may come across them again at this time of year when they awake from hibernation and begin foraging for much needed food after their winter weight-loss.

Being nocturnal mammals, it’s unlikely that you will see them during the daytime. If a hedgehog is about with a sense of purpose, going somewhere, it would well be ok, but if it’s looking a bit weary or wobbly, there could be a problem so it’s worth contacting your local wildlife hospital or looking online for specialist advice.

            You can help hedgehogs at this time of year in a number of ways:

• Don’t put a fork or spade into your compost heap in case they are still in there.

Instead, lift out compost by hand for use on the garden. If you find a hedgehog, cover it    over and leave it undisturbed. Curled up hedgehogs are usually still hibernating.

• Carefully check long grasses before mowing and strimming.
• Ensure there are gaps under fences or holes for them to get through. Hedgehogs need to travel approximately 1-2 miles a night to forage!
• Have ways “in and out” of ponds should a hedgehog decide to take a drink in your steep edged tub with water! A ramp or piles of logs/ stones will do.
• Leave out a shallow dish of water or maybe some meaty wet cat food in a plastic box with a hole cut to deter local cats from eating it. 

Hedgehogs will be particularly hungry at this time of year and searching for worms, insects, slugs and snails to eat in the garden. Don’t leave out milk as it can make them very ill and bread has little nutrition so is not helpful, as it isn’t for ducks either.

 As the garden is currently closed, we won’t know if and when the local hedgehogs will be about. They are probably enjoying the tranquillity through the lack of human activity!

You can see more information about hedgehogs on our website here.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/other-garden-wildlife/mammals/hedgehog/