Sean McMenemy, passionate nature expert and founder of Ark Wildlife, shares some of his top tips on some easy ways toto care for hedgehogs:
Make a hedgehog highway
“We’re all hoping warmer weather and lovely, balmy summer evenings are coming our way, not just to make our time outdoors longer and more enjoyable but to also bring about one of my favourite sounds – the hedgehog snuffle as they make their way into our gardens.
In fact, they can travel around two kilometres every night in search of food, a mate and a safe place to shelter!
For obvious reasons, we can all play our part to keep hedgehogs safe and away from busy roads, and likewise, we should also make sure hogs don’t find themselves trapped in our gardens.
An easy way to help prevent both of these dangerous situations is to add access gaps in your fences, so that prickly visitors can pass safely. Installing a hedgehog highway is easy – all you need to do is cut a 13cm by 13cm opening in the bottom of a fence panel, and make sure you sand down the edges to prevent hedgehogs from getting caught on any rough edges. If you’re not a dab hand at DIY, you can also dig a channel underneath the panel itself, provided it’s large enough to prevent any hogs from getting stuck. Adding a hedgehog highway sign creates a fun feature to your garden, that both you and visiting hogs will enjoy.
Why not knock on next door and get your neighbours involved, too? You could create a whole network throughout your neighbourhood!”
Give a hog a home
“Hedgehogs were given a fitting name, as their typical habitat in the UK consists of hedges and bushes, making them a common sight in fields and on farmlands. Nowadays, though, hogs will find a home wherever they can – and that means in more urban areas like many of our gardens, too.
An easy way to provide a welcoming home is to incorporate more hedges and shrubs into your garden, but if you’d like to offer a more luxury experience for your garden guests, then a specialist hedgehog home is an easy option. There are lots of hedgehog habitats out there, but generally one with an anti-predator opening and hinged roof is a good choice.
Whatever type you go for, place it in a protected area in a quiet and sheltered corner of the garden. Face the house in a south or southwest direction for the best chance of enticing hedgehogs to make a home there. Make it as comfortable as possible by covering the floor of the house with a suitable mixture, like the hay and straw found in our hedgehog bedding, for extra protection against the elements and a comfortable spot to cosy down in.”
Provide a nutritious feast
“Hedgehogs will feast on a smorgasbord of snacks in the wild, including beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, millipedes, snails and slugs, as well as berries and fruits. They’ll even enjoy bird eggs, and frogs if they come across them on their nightly travels!
Like many wild animals, though, hedgehogs are finding it more difficult to find natural food sources, so providing a regular meal in your back garden is a great way to give these cute little creatures a helping hand.
Putting out a dish of Ark’s Original Hedgehog Food is a super easy way to help the hogs in your area – each piece of kibble is packed with essential vitamins and minerals and is 100% natural. Dog and cat kibble will also make for a delicious dinner, but of course, specialist hedgehog food provides the most nutritious meal.
Simply grab a bowl, top it up before night falls and place it somewhere sheltered and away from predators. To make it even easier for them to eat, select a bowl with low sides, drainage holes to prevent soggy biscuits, and a flat bottom to prevent it from tipping over, like Ark’s Hedgehog Food Bowl.
Avoid offering mealworms if possible – hogs have been known to become a bit addicted to these tasty treats and will avoid eating more balanced foods in favour of them. If you’re keen to learn more about what hedgehogs should and shouldn’t eat, check out my blog .”
For more expert advice from Sean, and to browse Ark Wildlife’s range of hedgehog habitats and food, visit www.arkwildlife.co.uk