As hibernation approaches, a few simple steps can help these little animals get through winter without a hitch.
Going into Winter in Good Shape
Autumn is here, the weather is already cooling, and hedgehogs are already getting ready for hibernation. If you have hedgehogs in your garden, that’s in itself a sign of a healthy habitat: insects for food and snug corners for shelter are likely to be available.
But you can probably do even more, as climate change and the ongoing destruction of their habitat leave these charming creatures increasingly vulnerable. To help them pass the winter in good condition, they first need suitable shelter. And they need to reach winter in good shape.
Shelters tucked into the corners
How can you help them in either case? First, by shaping the corners of your garden to help them set up a nest there. Don’t tidy up the base of your hedges, branches, and leaves too perfectly. Leave a small thicket in a corner, and they’ll be happy to move in, nest, and hide.
Even a small thing can be enough to help them out, since hedgehogs are clever little creatures: a simple board laid diagonally against a wall, a piece of tarpaulin, or a gap to access the garden shed can be enough to tip them toward moving into their winter quarters.
A Little Food Keeps Them Going
But to be sure a hedgehog makes it through the winter, you also need to ensure it arrives in decent shape. Climate warming is producing more late-autumn litters. Between exhausted mothers nursing and youngsters that haven’t gained enough weight, whole families of hedgehogs reach hibernation time burned out. If you encounter a hedgehog during the day, when it is a nocturnal animal, that’s a sign of fatigue. Weigh it on your kitchen scale: if it weighs less than 700 grams, it will need your help. Contact a wildlife association for advice on how to care for it, feed it, and warm it up.
In general, always leave a little food in your garden, preferably away from cats: these little gourmands will quickly settle into their routine, with a shallow water dish and cat kibble. Note: no bread or milk, which can be fatal to them!
Read also
How to Create a Hedgehog Shelter in Your Garden?
