How to Rehome a Hedgehog
British Hedgehogs Suffer on Roads and in Tidy Gardens
The European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was once a common sight in Britain. Strolling, almost anywhere, one was likely to see hedgehogs most evenings. They were plentiful in both rural and urban situations – as likely to be seen in a wood as in a back garden. They were so plentiful that they were often encountered sauntering along the pavement. And herein lies one of their problems.
Hedgehog Roadkills
In nature rolling up into a prickly ball is a good strategy when afraid or attacked. Most predators in the UK soon learn to leave ‘Spike’ alone. Unfortunately the same behaviour is disastrous when crossing the road. Cars and juggernauts frighten hedgehogs, but a prickly ball does nothing to impress a vehicle – ‘Spike’ gets squashed! Nowadays hedgehogs are most commonly seen as flattened blobs on the road.
Tidy Gardeners Harm Hedgehogs
Removing unsightly weed growth near hedges, disposing of pruned clippings rather than leaving them in unsightly heaps, sweeping up autumn leaves instead of letting them blow into corners, and – worst of all – using pesticides to control slug and snails, all cause hedgehogs problems.
- The European Hedgehog needs a safe, warm place to hibernate (between November and March most years). In the past many gardens provided suitable refuges – now it is difficult to find a nice pile of rubbish.
- Spike’s favourite food is precisely the pests that gardeners try to control. Sensible use of pesticides reduces hedgehogs’ food supply, while irresponsible overuse can kill them. The irony here is that encouraging hedgehogs and catering for their well-being would be as effective as using expensive pesticides in controlling the slugs and snails.
- Injured hedgehogs often find their way to ‘rescue’ centres, and once they have been ‘patched up’ they require a home. People with suitable gardens can contact these centres to register as a potential ‘rehomer’. (Here is a list of people who currently care for rescued hedgehogs in Britain.)
- Unwise introduction of hedgehogs into some Hebridean Islands has seriously endangered populations of ground-nesting birds (hedgehogs like eggs!), and in some places they are now being captured for rehoming rather than culled. (See ‘Uist Hedgehog Rescue’ for more details.)
Cat food is appreciated by hedgehogs, and regularly leaving a bowl in a garden occasionally visited by hedgehogs will encourage them to stay in the vicinity - but never give then bread and milk, which makes them very ill. The provision of ‘wild’ places in the garden, and piles of twigs and leaves for hibernation, will also add to the attractiveness of the place (for hedgehogs that is!). It is also important to stop irresponsible use of pesticides, or – better still – avoid them altogether. The hedgehogs will take care of the slugs and snails and you will have a perfect justification for a more ‘relaxed’ approach to gardening!
European Hedgehog
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