Pumpkins and hedgehogs

[upinaballoon]

There was a snippet of news yesterday, that the Woodland Trust had advised people not to put pumpkins out (as in dumping them now) because they could hurt hedgehogs somehow. The BBC text did not give a reason, though. What's the reason, please?

You can do a search for more info. But as pumpkin is so fibrous and hedgehogs can gorge in them they are likely to get tummy upset diarrhoea etc....there are still small hogs about from late litters who will obviously more at risk of dehydration. Some advice is to hang the remains from trees but perhaps safer to compost them and keep well away from where hedgehogs may go to feed. Hope that helps...I have at least three hedgehogs in my garden this year (as I have seen three together at any one time....one large adult and two smaller ones and I would guess there is another who "parented" the babies!) I have fed hedgehogs for many years and didn't know about the pump!in thing but I have always fed meat cat food or hedgehog food....the ones I feed crunch through Iams junior food for kittens and I have seem a recommendation from a hedgehog rescue for Smilia I think it is kittenfood....but always ensure there is plenty of water to drink they can access safely. ps feeds the hedgehogs but also any stray looking for a meal! A win-win for me.....hope that helps

This is the first year I have read about it, there are posts all over Facebook about it.