Feeding hedgehogs

[Downunderduchess]

I saw this interesting little article on FB. I often see posters on here mention hedgehogs in their garden. Thought I would share this pic/info.

Hi thanks for your post... I wish I had a hedgehog(s) in my garden, as I have enough slugs to feed a whole community of hedgehogs !!!
Is it worth noting that you can buy lactose free milk in supermarkets?
If it's safe to give them that hat, I'd buy a carton, and freeze in an ice cube tray and just thaw as needed.
I'd love to see these lovely little creatures survive/thrive.... it's upsetting to witness our wildlife diminish.

Ps... not hats are required, that was my phone deciding to add that in !! 🤦‍♀️

They don't need milk at all..just a fresh safe water source. Wet food pet food has a lot of water in it

I used to buy the dried "hedgehog food" but read that it is a gimmick rather than being nutritionally appropriate for the hedgehogs.

I hope I get some this year, not seen them for 2 years..and I always have wet cat food which my fussy boy won't eat...Felix as good as it looks beef flavour !!

If you see that particular little chap in your garden, catch it in a box and take it to the nearest vet.

The info in the text is pretty good, but that's not a native hedgehog. (Can't see its nose properly for a definitive ID but I think it's a lesser hedgegog tenrec. Might be a four-toed hedgehog. Either way it should be a lot nearer the equator.)

For those of us who don't have cat food readily to hand, European hedgehogs are also extremely fond of an egg.

We have a whole family in our garden atm. Mama and 4 little ones. They are adorable and love cat/dog food. They also eat apples, but i think they prefer meat. I was told by the vet to not feed too much and also reduce feeding when it gets colder. Apparently they hibernate when theres less food available and if you keep feeding them a lot then their inner clock wont know that its time to hibernate. Its not good for them if that happens.

Wet food pet food has a lot of water in it Hedgehogs need meat flavour not fish flavour, according to our local hedgehog rescue.