Natasha with a rescued hedgehog

Natasha Winn runs Hedgely Hogspital, a small hedgehog hospital and rescue centre in Abercych, which is self-funded. She came to talk to us about the hedgehogs in our gardens.

She pointed out that as they're nocturnal animals, we might not even know they are there, and that most are going about their business happily but  they do get into trouble and it's sensible to know the signs that they may need rescuing.

It was interesting to hear what hedgehogs eat. They are generalists and feed on a wide range of things. The majority of their diet is made up of invertebrates (or creepy crawlies). We know what they eat from scientific studies that have analysed hedgehog poo or looked in the stomachs of hedgehogs killed on roads. The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes.

She explained how the west European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is Britain’s only spiny mammal. Their highly specialised coat contains around 6,000 creamy-brown spines, concealing greyish fur on their underside, long legs and a short tail. She talked about hibernation, mating, and how the females give birth in June and July, bring up their babies, which are called hoglets. The average litter size of four or five young. However, they usually only wean two or three successfully. The mother is liable to desert or even eat hoglets if she is disturbed. Sometimes she will carry them in her mouth to a new location. Jane Cain told us how she'd witnessed this remarkable scene in her garden once (and luckily rushed for her camera – pictures on the right of the page), when a mother hedgehog helped her baby up the garden steps. She said she was so fortunate to see this, as she never realised they picked up their youngsters like a cat does with her kittens.  

Females are capable of having a second litter in late September or October, but hoglets from the second litter need to put on weight very quickly to prepare for hibernation, and are often unable to put on enough weight to survive the period. These late litters can lead to ‘autumn orphans’ still foraging around well into winter sometimes in the day time and often looking underweight. They're less likely to survive the winter, so babies late in the season probably need rescuing. 

 Here is the Hedgely's list of things you can do (and avoid) to help keep healthy hedgehogs happy  in your garden;

Create a wild area

Piles of logs and leafs encourage insects and invertebrates that hedgehogs eat.  They also provide a secure site for breeding and hibernating.  The bigger the area the better.

Create a wildflower patch

Plant a diverse semi-natural wildflower patch, using native seed mixes where possible, to suit your soil type.  Go for mixes without grass seed and add no fertilizers.  Growing wild flowers will encourage biodiversity and attract a valuable hedgehog food source to your garden.

Make a hedgehog artificial home

This can be as simple as putting a board against a wall or purchasing a purpose-built one.

Feeding hedgehogs

Providing fresh food and water will encourage hedgehogs to your garden.  Tinned dog or cat food (not gravy or fish varieties), cat biscuits and chopped egg are advisable.  You can buy specialist hedgehog food from specialist suppliers (garden centres or online).  Cows milk isn’t advisable as it upsets hedgehogs’ stomachs.

Open air compost heaps

Compost heaps make an attractive nesting site for hedgehogs and are a  good food source, due to the creepy crawlies that live in them.  Be careful when turning your heap with a garden fork.

Ponds

Hedgehogs will benefit from having an all year round water supply and thrive on the insects and amphibians that ponds attract.  Hedgehogs are excellent swimmers. Ensure that ponds have sloping edges to make it easy for hedgehogs to climb out. Stones or chicken wire can also be used to assist hedgehogs with easy exit.  If a pond has steep sides and no adaptations are able to be made it will be a hazard to many animals, so will need to be covered or fenced off to ensure that animals don’t get trapped in it and drown.

DIY hedgehog highways

https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/

One of the reasons why hedgehogs are declining in Britain is because our garden fences and walls are becoming more secure thereby reducing the amount of land available to them.  Making a 13cm by 13cm hole in your garden fence or wall is sufficient to allow a hedgehog to pass through, but will be too small for most pets to pass through.

You can register your hole on the “BIG HEDGEHOG MAP” and snazzy hedgehog street signs are available to purchase from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society Shop for £3.00 which you can put above your hedgehog hole.

 See website www.hedgehogstreet.org

 Use natural alternatives to slug pellets

 Slug pellets are hazardous to hedgehogs and they have been found dead with high levels of slug pellets active ingredients in their system.  Slug pellets may not always kill hedgehogs but may effect their reproductive ability and have a negative effect on their population.Some alternatives to slug pellets are:

• encouraging amphibians to your garden via a pond (as they will eat slugs and snails)
• hand pick slugs and snails from your garden
• use dried seaweed in large quantities around plants
• water your garden in the morning rather than the evening, as slugs thrive in the damp.

 Garden Hazards

Strimmers:  Check through long grass before starting to strim an overgrown area.

Swimming pools and ponds: Ensure that they are securely covered, or have an exit ramp or sloping sides or stones so hedgehogs can climb out. Check ponds and swimming pools daily.

Bonfires:  Check wood or brash piles for nesting hedgehogs before burning.

Netting:  Hedgehogs can easily get caught up in netting.  Nets act like a snare and can cause severe injuries and death.  Make sure all unused netting is lifted off the ground and pea netting is high enough for hedgehogs to pass under.

Chemicals:  Slug pellets, herbicides, wood preservers, bleach and disinfectants are examples of chemical hazards for hedgehogs.  Choose environmentally friendly wood preservers.  Be mindful of the effects that chemicals can have on wildlife in your garden and seek natural and environmentally friendly products as an alternative.

Herbicides can decrease earthworm and invertebrate populations, which in turn can diminish hedgehogs’ food supply.

Natasha  explained that she is now taking in over 100 wild hedgehogs each year in Ceredigion, south west Wales, caring for them until they are well enough to go back to the wild...their release rate is approximately 90%.

She asked us that if we find a hedgehog and we're concerned about it, to phone her onn 01239 682 324 or 07792 676 112 and leave a message. In an emergency, keep trying. She reminded us to always wear thick gardening gloves or using a thick towel, pick it up by holding it in both hands around the middle, scooping it up. Put it into a cardboard box lined with newspaper and give a small towel or tea towel for it to hide under.

Here is her check list of how to know if the hedgehogs in our garden are happy or in distress;

WHEN TO RESCUE A HEDGEHOG: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE
Daytime
Rescue a hedgehog if it’s out during the day. Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals. They only come out during the day if there’s a problem.

Out of nest
Hedgehogs sleep and hibernate in specially built nests. If you find one lying in the middle of a garden or path, assume it is ill and call us.

Alone
Baby and juvenile hedgehogs live in family groups in nests. Tiny babies will only leave a nest if there is a problem. Young hedgehogs will make a very shrill loud, call if in distress.

If you find one, please do not try to look after it yourself as babies die very quickly and need specialist feeds. If transport is an issue, please keep the baby warm and contact us for advice until arrangements are made to collect it or meet you.

"Apparent" injured orphan
Any young hedgehog that has an injury, or is out during the day, should be be checked over.
Under NO circumstances try to feed them milk.

Hit by a car
Traffic casualty can suffer a variety of injuries. They must have medical assistance immediately.

Other wounds
A hedgehog with open wounds can become infected or fly blown and will not heal without assistance. Urgent attention is required as the animal will be suffering from shock.
If a hedgehog is caught in netting, contact us or another hedgehog rescue. Any hedgehog that's been caught in netting will need to be monitored in case of further complications.

Hibernation
If a hedgehog is under 600 grams any time between late October and early May. They would not have laid enough brown fat to survive a whole winter.

Appears dead
Please do not bury a hedgehog until you are 100% sure it is dead, and not sick or hibernating. We can help you be accurate.

Become a hedgehog champion and educate your local community about hedgehogs and their conservation and preservation.
The Hogspital's good works are self-funded and donations, however small, are always much appreciated.

1. Natasha is always grateful for donations of food, medical supplies and bedding, etc. You can browse our Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/registry/wishlist/3VF0CZJY2392

2. Send money through PayPal to hedgely.hogspital@yahoo.co.uk. You can also donate directly to the Hedgely Hogspital account at Lloyds, 30 71 89, account number 28105368

3. Donate directly to Priory Vets in Cardigan, which help with the rescued hedgehogs, on 01239 612 479 or in person. Knowing that there are funds available to pay for vital tests - often in an emergency - is a great help.

With thanks from Hedgely Hospital and the recovering hedgehogs.

 Clickk here for Their Facebook Page