H E D G E H O G S
HEDGEHOGS ARE VULNERABLE
TO EXTINCTION
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I have always been fascinated by these fabulous nocturnal animals. They are just one of our beautiful wild animals which are suffering a massive decline in numbers and need our help to ensure they do not eventually become extinct, a hedgerow without a hedgehog is unthinkable. Although hedgerows are very sadly out of fashion and being dug up and replaced by fencing :-(
Some of the following things people do or dont do without thinking but just a few changes will be a massive help:-
- Holes in the bottoms of fencing 'Hedgehog Highways' to enable them to continue their usual routes even after hedging is removed and fencing installed. Some fencing manufacturers are introducing them to all their panels which is brilliant !!
- Lift up netting from tennis courts, football goals etc
- Move bonfire piles to a new site before lighting as a mass of garden debris is a fabulous bedroom for a hedgehog to scuffle into for a snooze or make a nest and have babies.
- have a small area in a distant corner with a compost type pile left undisturbed or a log pile for them to forage, these are great places for hedgehog to forage bugs which hedgehogs love.
- Avoid using pesticides as they can poison hedgehogs.
- To entice hedgehogs, at night put out meat (NOT fish) based cat food, wet or dry and water. NOT milk as they are lactose intolerant and this can kill them. you can also purchase proper hedgehog food if you are really enthusiastic about encouraging them.But beware that the neighbouring moggies are not pinching this extra food.
- If you are really interested in your nighttime visitors you can catch them by putting a small battery powered camera to view which visitors you get. You can get some for about `£50 on eBay, sometimes less 3.
- pick up litter, such as elastic bands, tin cans, plastic rings off beer cans etc as any small animal can get stuck within them but particularly hedgehogs with the direction of their spines - they cannot do reverse!!
Hedgehog Awareness Week
30th April - 6th May 2023
Hedgehog Awareness Week usually runs from 1st week in May, it is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and takes place every year. It aims to highlight the problems hedgehogs face and how you can help them.
This year we are celebrating the 41st Birthday of BHPS and asking people to grant hedgehoggy birthday wishes!
- Make a Hedgehog Highway in Fences – 5” x 5” (13 x 13cm) square gaps in the bottom of fences or walls should do it! Once created you can log these on the BIG Hedgehog Map at www.bighedgehogmap.org
- Create an undisturbed log pile that will offer shelter and food.
- Buy or build a Hedgehog Home (see plans at www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes or contact us for a paper copy).
- Offer water and meaty cat or dog food for hedgehogs – you can even build a feeding station to help keep the food safe for hedgehogs (see plans on BHPS website or contact them.)
- Check areas carefully before mowing or strimming.
- If moving compost heaps or similar, do it very gently and carefully with a fork/spade
- Ditch pesticides and poisons.
- Ensure there is an easy route out of ponds & pools.
- Cattle grids need ramps
- MOVE all timber to a new area if it is a pile for a bonfire, before lighting it
- Create a wild corner – leave a corner or edge to go wild supplying shelter and natural food for hedgehogs in the form of bugs and grubs!
- Join BHPS (or if you are already a supporter – recruit someone else).
Tel: 01584 890 801
Email: info@britishhedgehogs.org.uk
British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow,
Shropshire. SY8 3PL
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