Hedgehogs in the garden

The hedgehog must be one of our most well-known animals though for most of us our familiarity is due more to its occurrence in children’s literature, on greetings cards and calendars than a personal connection with a living being.

Here is a creature that is willing to live in close proximity to us in our gardens, yet still struggles to survive. Let’s take some time to reflect on this charismatic mammal and what we might be able to do to help reverse its fortunes.

We all know that hedgehogs are covered in spines but did you know that they have about 6,000 of them? The spines are adapted hairs and, just like human hair, they are shed and replaced at regular intervals. Baby hedgehogs, or pinkies, have soft spines; this makes birth and living in close proximity with mother and other young just a little more comfortable.

The spines are for defence against predators, and the strategy of the hedgehog is to curl into a tight ball surrounded by extremely sharp spines and when in this position it makes restricted jumping movements so that assailants having a sniff get a pointed reminder of what they might feel if they go any further!

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The hedgehog’s lifecycle

The hedgehog’s lifecycle involves rearing two litters per year and, although the first litter is usually reared without mishap, the second litter is often born quite close to the beginning of hibernation and its generation have less chance of putting on sufficient weight to make it through the winter. Pinkies spend four weeks suckling from their mother and a further four weeks learning how to fend for themselves. At the end of this time they can be expected to weigh about 200 grams, but before they can successfully hibernate they will need to weigh around 600 grams.

The hedgehog is one of only a few British mammals which truly hibernates, the others are dormice and bats. When it comes to finding a suitable place to hibernate hedgehogs may use a hole in the ground, such as a rabbit burrow, but they will take up residence in a purpose-built hedgehog house which can either be bought from a local garden centre or quite easily made.

They usually begin hibernation in November so at this time of year we can help by providing dry grass and twigs adjacent to their nest box, we can also prime the box with some torn newspaper or hay to maximise the chances of a hedgehog taking up residence.

Before hibernation begins hungry hedgehogs might benefit from supplementary feeding

The hedgehog’s diet

The diet of the hedgehog makes this a true gardener’s friend. Hogs eat a whole host of invertebrates, including slugs, which many gardeners look upon as pests. Their presence in a garden helps to maintain a natural equilibrium. They are, after all, part of the natural ecosystem.

If you have hedgehogs which are still active in your garden well into the autumn it might be that they are struggling to find enough food to gain the weight required for hibernation. If this is the case it would be appropriate to put out some supplementary food. Such things as solid cat or dog food but avoid fish flavour since hedgehogs cannot digest fish. Other healthy offerings include peanuts and sultanas but do not provide bread and milk which causes, at least, an upset stomach. A shallow dish of fresh water would also be welcome.

A declining population

I suspect we all know about the decline of British hedgehogs, it has been well-documented over many decades. The more recent statistics show that since 2000 the population of hedgehogs in urban areas is down by about one-third and in rural areas by about a half. The most recent report (The State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022) by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and The British Hedgehog Society shows a subtle change in the nature of that decline with the urban population beginning to steady, though the rural population continues to decline rapidly with between one-third and three-quarters lost in the last twenty years with the worst hit areas in the east of England.

The fact that the hedgehog population has stabilised to some degree in urban areas implies that gardens are an essential refuge for these animals. It might also suggest that the work done by organisations to promote wildlife gardening is paying off. As gardeners we all need to reflect on what we do and make changes to support hedgehogs and other wildlife, so here I suggest a few steps we can all take to help.

The hedgehog is a gardener’s friend, eating many garden pests

Helping hedgehogs in your garden

1. If you are planning a bonfire check thoroughly inside the base using a broom handle rather than a fork before lighting it. As well as hedgehogs other animals, even pets, seek refuge in such places.

2. Don’t be too tidy in your garden, hedgehogs like piles of leaf-litter, sticks and twigs which are home to their prey and which they can use for hibernation.

3. Make sure that any water sources have an easy escape route, should a hedgehog fall in.

4. Don’t use slug pellets or insecticides in your garden.

5. Check for hedgehogs before strimming.

6. Hedgehogs roam over large areas and need to access many gardens so make sure they can get into and out of your garden. A gap of at least 13cm square at the bottom of a fence is sufficient, but check with your neighbours before you take a saw to their fence!

For more information on hedgehogs and how to look after them see: British Hedgehog Preservation Society, People’s Trust for Endangered Species and hedgehogstreet.org

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