What do hedgehogs eat?
Did you know that hedgehogs are sometimes called “gardeners’ friends”? There is a very good reason for this!
Hedgehogs love to eat many of the garden pests that munch on plants and flowers, so to have a hedgehog in your garden is great news – well perhaps not for slugs and snails…
Hedgehogs eat a variety of insects including beetles, centipedes, earthworms and small slugs and snails. Hedgehog poo is easy to spot because it is often shiny due to the high concentration of insect shells and other invertebrate remains!
What can I feed hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs need to roam up to five miles per night in order to eat enough insects, so any help they receive from humans is much appreciated! We recommend leaving out cat or dog food, along with a shallow dish of water to help keep hogs hydrated. This is especially important just before hibernation, when hedgehogs need to build their body weight before long cold winter months. It is also important in spring when hedgehogs seek to quickly restore their fat reserves after hibernation.
How can I attract hedgehogs to my garden?
Leaving out food and water is one of the best ways to attract regular hedgehog visitors, but there are other things you can do too!
Hedgehogs love wild areas which provide cover from predators, so leave a corner of your garden to grow wild, and if you rake up leaves, leave those in the corner too – they’ll come in handy for creating nests!
Making or buying a hedgehog home is another great way to attract hedgehogs. And why not speak to your neighbours about installing hedgehog highways between your gardens?