March and April are the months when hedgehogs wake up from their winter hibernation. They will of course be feeling hungry after months of only living on their fat reserves. Hedgehog: Kevin Sawford (rspb-images.com)
You can help by putting put a shallow dish of water out and some meaty cat or dog food or some cat biscuits. If you don’t want the cats and dogs to eat it, a plastic box with a hedgehog sized hole cut into it (13x13cm) makes an ideal feeding station that pets hopefully can’t fit into!
Hedgehog: Nick Upton (rspb-images.com)
If you find dark cylindrical droppings 2-5cm long, with a pointy end, they could be hedgehog droppings and a sign that one has been on the move in your garden.
Always move bonfire piles bit by bit before burning as they are a favourite for hedgehogs to hibernate in and carefully check long grassy areas before strimming. If you find a hedgehog, the best thing is to leave it alone and postpone your garden activities in that area. If you accidentally come across one, cover it over with lots of dry leaves. If you absolutely have to relocate one, put it somewhere quiet and dry where pets can’t disturb it and cover with dry leaves.
Other ways you can help your garden to be hedgehog friendly is to stop using pesticides and slug pellets. There are alternatives to try and hopefully the hedgehogs will eat your healthy slugs! You can also ensure that you have a hedgehog sized hole (13 x 13cm) available in the fences and walls of your garden as hedgehogs will travel up to 2km per night in search for food.
If you saw hedgehogs in your garden last autumn, it could soon be time to see them again!
The Flatford Wildlife Garden is still currently closed. Details of re-opening in Spring 2021 will be posted on this blog and the Flatford Wildlife Garden Website.