To ask you to please help hedgehogs and other wildlife prepare for winter

[Pricklesinperil]

It is literally a lifeline for them as the weather gets warmer.

if you’d like to know about other ways to help, please go to Help hedgehogs

thank you

Note from MNHQ - please do read the Op's latest update (October 2022) before responding.

My neighbour and I share the joy of our hedgehog visitors. They have been very bold coming out at dusk so we both spotted them easily. Lots of bowls of water out and I have sprinkled some of our cat's kibble now and again on the lawn just to help them along. I also water the garden plants that need it in the evening so the slugs are encouraged to come out and get eaten

I've logged it on the map but there's no way of showing there's a pair of them (unless NDN logs too, I might suggest it to her)

We have a trail camera that I got because I was curious about the poos I was finding in the garden were hedgehog as I suspected. It was great to have that confirmed (as well as the fox visitor too, but we see them in the daytime too so no surprise)!

Although we haven't seen our hedgehog at all this year, the robin seems to be doing well. He likes the worm patch - and we have a wren drop in to feed there as well. We live in an inner city housing estate so this is very exciting.

Yikes, seeing this thread pop up has reminded me I forgot to feed my hedgehogs as I went out earlier!

Thanks @Pricklesinperil for continuing with this thread. I commented earlier in the summer and have regular visitors to my garden.

Can I take this opportunity to ask that if anyone sees a hedgehog outside during the day, it most likely is in need of urgent medical help and a rescue centre (not vet!) should be contacted asap for advice. It was around this time last year that I spotted a few outside in the day that needed help.

Right, better feed my hedgehogs!

Sadly, I've lost two of the hogs that were visiting my garden......they've succumbed to traffic on the road through the estate :-(

I haven't seen the third hog (who I think may have been the mother) for over a week either, but something had a good feed last night, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed she's back, because the local cats haven't shown any interest in the food I put out.

Please can I ask if it is true that you don't have hedgehogs where there are badgers? I am not sure I have ever seen a hedgehog in my garden or in my area (but I do leave water out for wildlife).

That’s wonderful TheNoodles! So lovely that you and your neighbour share the joy 🦔

Brilliant TheInebriati! How lovely of you to create a worm patch

So happy to hear you still have regular hedgehog visitors Eckno! Sure they are enjoying all the water and food - how many sittings do you offer?😀

To add to Eckno’s wise words - if you see a hedgehog during the day, please read the following Hedgehog in the day

If you spot a hedgehog at night and it looks healthy then the best thing you can do is leave it alone. Hedgehogs are wild animals and so can get very easily stressed by human contact. If the sighting is during the day – it could be a warning sign that all is not well. However, there are some exceptions, nest disturbance, females nest building in preparation for young to be born or feeding while young are asleep being some. Those hedgehogs will generally be moving quickly, appear well and only out for short periods of time. Monitor from a distance to ensure no problems develop and if in doubt call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890 801. However if you find a hedgehog staggering around, lying still (not in a nest), with flies around it or obviously sick or injured be it day or night, it needs urgent help.

Oh no! That’s so so sad Hope

Hedgehog Street want to know about hedgehogs killed on the road. Would you use this to let them know? Hedgehog Street roadkill

I do hope it is the third hog that’s enjoying your hospitality

@DorritLittle Thank you for leaving out water for wildlife. In answer to your question, here’s what Hedgehog Street says about hedgehogs and badgers Hedgehogs

it’s very likely there are hedgehogs around, it’s just that they can’t get in if you have fences or walls. Several people on this thread found hedgehogs in their garden when they made a few small changes to make their garden more hedgehog friendly.

if you haven’t already seen it, take a look at this video from hedgehog street.

The PTES who co-run Hedgehog Street have an online shop PTES shop.

@DorritLittle - apologies, meant to include this for you too. You can enter your postcode on this big hedgehog map to see if there have been any hedgehog sightings in your neighbourhood Hedgehog Street Big Hedgehog Map

Article here from People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) exploring why hedgehogs visit certain gardens PTES

Saw my little guy the other night, actually not so little anymore, seems to have put on quite a bit of weight but I think it’s the same one. Thought I’d just leave it be rather than try and shove my phone in its face for pics! Anyway I’m keeping putting food out, probably about 20g a night which seems to get hoovered up sometime between 9-11. So hopefully preparing well for hibernation although I guess there’s always the chance it’s a she and she’s pregnant…

Just to let you know that 'my' family seem healthy & happy - I often sit quietly outside with my youngest son (wildlife mad) to observe the hoggies, squirrels & bats! We live in an urban area so are blessed! The hoggies come to our garden (water & munchies supplied) & then go under the fence to next door's..

Oh btw, if anyone wants to know (from the poo) if they do have hedgehogs, there are pictures on google! :-)

brilliant to hear your hedgehog visitor is doing so well Lonely!

Watching wildlife is lovely isn’t it Mamabear? Thanks to you and your son for caring about hedgehogs and for providing munchies and water. Fab to know that your son is wildlife mad too. If he hasn’t already, he could register to become a hedgehog champion

Loved reading about this Derbyshire couple’s garden becoming a haven for hedgehogs Derby Telegraph- Hedgehogs

I thought I’d shared this months ago! I must have dreamt I did it

Lovely video from a hedgehog champion of a hedgehog showing her hoglet the ropes 😀

I've had no sightings or sounds from my hedgehog from earlier in the summer x still putting water out but stopped with the food for a while as it was just getting wet and spoiled in the rain. Am planning to build a shelter over the weekend but as there has been no poo, no scratching, no grunting etc I think its gone.

On the plus side, I did finally get a goldfinch on the birdfeeder and birdbath last night - we've heard them lots and son has seen a dozen or so flying around but this was the first still one. it was only a young one I think.

Oh that’s sad about your hedgehog visitor blobby. Thank you for sharing cheering news about your garden birds - that’s lovely.

Lovely video from hedgehog street about designing gardens to help hedgehogs

This is from the RSPB - recording of bird songsRSPB - what bird can I hear?

Love hedgehogs and want to help them but don’t have a garden? No problem! Have a look at this article from Hedgehog Street How to help hedgehogs if you don’t have a garden

No garden? No problem!

Don’t worry – you can still help our prickly pals! Here are some ideas…

Contact your local council to highlight the importance of managing public land with hedgehogs in mind. Think about park and greenspace management companies too. Our Hedgehog Ecology and Land Management guide is useful to pass along.

Contact local developers to let them know how they can help by making new-build sites accessible for hedgehogs and raising awareness with new homeowners. Pass along our Hedgehogs and Development guide and let them know about our other work with developers.

Share social media posts from PTES or BHPS about helping hedgehogs, to raise awareness and reach new audiences.

Talk to friends, family and neighbours about hedgehogs and how to help them. You could give people our Top Tips leaflet to help get them started.

Contact local fencing companies to make them aware of hedgehog highways and their importance. Some hedgehog-friendly fencing options exist on the market, but we always need more!

Join local conservation or ‘friends of’ groups – membership isn’t usually expensive and it’s a great way to get into volunteering (and you can speak to them about hedgehog conservation!). The Hedgehog Ecology and Land Management guide can be useful to share.

Contact sports clubs; grass pitches can provide good foraging habitat and clubs can help by providing access through hedgehog highways. Think golf clubs, rugby clubs etc.

Volunteer with a local hedgehog rescue. BHPS have a directory of rescues all over the UK and many of them are in need of extra hands.

Help other wildlife with bird feeders on balconies, window boxes planted with wildflowers for pollinators, bug hotels etc.

Rented garden?

If you’re limited in how much you can change your rented garden, don’t worry – even the smallest changes can make a big difference. Hedgehog highways (13cm x 13cm gaps in fences to let hedgehogs in) can be dug under fences, rather than cutting a hole. A designated wild patch in the garden is another way to help. Stopping mowing and allowing wildflowers to grow will encourage insect prey for hedgehogs. Longer grass will also provide nesting material. Supplementary food and hedgehog houses can also be good options for helping without changing the garden too much. Log piles and leaf piles are also very beneficial (and not too permanent!).