Hedgehogs are a beloved sight in many gardens, and there are several ways to encourage them to visit. Fareham Borough Council in Hampshire has set out several methods to help hedgehogs throughout summer and encourage them to visit your garden.
Leave out food
The initial suggestion is to provide food. Appropriate choices include dry cat or dog food, or specialist hedgehog food, which is especially suitable.
Nevertheless, the council warned against fish-based products, as hedgehogs have an extraordinarily acute sense of smell and experts observe they are often put off by the intense aroma of fish, reports Wales Online.
Fish protein also moves through a hedgehog's brief digestive tract exceptionally quickly and, while not dangerous, can lead to distinctly strong, fishy-smelling droppings. The council additionally warns against ever giving hedgehogs milk.
Provide fresh water
Hedgehogs are profoundly lactose intolerant, missing the enzyme necessary to digest lactose, which means that drinking milk causes acute stomach cramps and serious diarrhoea. For a small creature, swift fluid depletion from diarrhoea can lead to serious dehydration, which often proves deadly.
Instead of milk, the council suggests putting out a shallow bowl of fresh water, which "can be a lifeline" for hedgehogs during warm conditions. Experts advise placing the water dish near their feeding area, especially during hot summer evenings or extended dry spells.
Check before you trim or mow your lawn
The post encouraged people to carefully examine long grass, bushes and undergrowth before using any garden equipment. Hedgehogs don't run from danger; rather, they roll into a tight ball. This natural defence response leaves them completely exposed to spinning metal blades and nylon cords, causing serious, often fatal cuts and injuries.
Since hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures, they spend daytime hours resting in exactly the locations people typically wish to tidy - such as long grass, thick undergrowth, bramble thickets and under hedgerows.
Water plants wisely
Watering your plants carefully helps keep the soil moist, ensuring that earthworms, beetles and insects stay active close to the surface. This gives foraging hedgehogs a vital source of food during dry periods, when parched, hardened ground makes hunting considerably more difficult. It also acts as a helpful prompt to refill any shallow water dishes placed around the garden.
