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Covid -19 has affected us here at Jen’s
Hedgehog Rescue. We now have Covid-19
restrictions, but we will always give advice and
recommendations of alternative rescues if
necessary.
Here are some pointers where we can all help
our spikey friends:
Hedgehogs do not sunbathe. They will come out
and lie in the sun when they are suffering from
hypothermia. Mother hedgehogs can often be
seen out in the day, but they will look alert and
purposeful. Leave them be.
Water! Water is most important. Please put a
dish out in dry weather as dehydration can be
a huge problem for hedgehogs. A shallow dish
is best in case there are babies so they do not
drown.
Even though these little hogs love nothing but
snuffl ing around, foraging for grubs, their natural
food source has greatly reduced in recent years,
due to our impact on the environment. You can
offer dry cat biscuits, small kibble dog biscuits
or smashed up biscuits, tinned dog food (no fi sh
or gravy) or hedgehog specifi c foods. No fi sh
fl avours, please, as hedgehogs can’t process fi sh
protein. Avoid giving bread, milk and mealworms
as these can be detrimental to the hogs’ health.
Make your garden hedgehog friendly by putting
holes in fences and or tunnels for them to be
able to roam. Have a wildlife patch with log
piles, overgrown grasses, plants that attract their
natural food source, wildlife ponds (with access
allowing the hedgehogs to climb out) or bury a
hedgehog house in the undergrowth, hidden
away out of sight.
Please also check your lawns before cutting the
grass or strimming, as this can cause terrible
injuries to hedgehogs.
Any hoglet or sick hedgehog out in the day
should be placed onto a heat source - even in
warm weather - for example a hot water bottle.
In hoglet season, if a nest is disturbed, Mum
should be scooped separately and fi rst into a box
on her own as she could eat her hoglets due to
stress. Contact a rescue for advice.
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