How to look after your Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs will be emerging from hibernation. If you do spot any, you can record sightings at https:// www.facebook.com/groups/hedgehoghighways or the Big Hedgehog Map at https://bighedgehogmap.org/.

Compton has a thriving community of hedgehogs, bustling around from dusk until the early hours. Being Britain’s favourite mammal we are lucky to have them residing in such a busy village, but they need our help to continue to thrive. Their population has declined to little over 1 million from an estimated 36.5 million in the 1950s.  Their population decrease could be due to a range of the following factors;

Rural hedgehogs

Widespread use of pesticides reduces the invertebrates hedgehogs eat. Larger field sizes, makes it difficult for hedgehogs to move around the landscape.
Hedgerow management by ‘flailing’, now leads to hedges with gaps underneath which is poor for nesting. Intensive management of pastures with herbicides and fertilisers reduce the amount of invertebrates.
Increasing badger numbers (their main natural predator) may have an effect where habitat is already degraded. Ploughing can destroy permanent pastures.

Urban hedgehogs

Solid garden fencing and walls limits the area of connected land available.
Gardens lost to car parking or decking directly reduces foraging area.
Busy roads cause mortalities. As well as this, they can disrupt dispersal routes for hedgehogs.
New developments usually lack any connectivity between gardens.
Over-management and development destroys hibernation habitats (typically scrubby or brambly areas).
Over-tidy gardening can remove dead wood, replace foraging areas with drives and decking and clear away overgrown corners.
Use of pesticides and slug pellets can poison animals and kills the invertebrates ‘hogs eat.

All is not lost though and there are many positive actions you can take to help support hedgehogs in your garden, or outdoor areas whatever the size. Here are some ideas to help them.

• Create a hole (13cm x 13cm) in your fence to link with neighbours (chat to them first, to check they are happy). Hedgehogs can roam over a mile each night so need access to a range of habitats.
  Linking gardens is a great way to help hedgehogs!

• Create a wild area. Incorporate features such as a log pile, areas of short and long grass, leaves, wildflowers and a pond. If you have a pond, make sure it has a ladder or stones at a shallower end so that if a hedgehog falls in, they can climb out. They are good swimmers but need an escape route too!

• Build or buy a hog house. They often use them all year round for resting, nesting and hibernation and can be filled with dry leaves or dust extracted hay (found at pet shops). There are lots of designs available, but one with a tunnel will help stop predators from entering. PTES (People’s Trust for Endangered Species) and Hedgehog Street have some designs available online.

• Hedgehogs like to drink lots of water, so leave a few shallow dishes of water around the garden close to food is ideal. I was surprised by how much they drink!

• Leave a handful of supplementary wet or dry food out. ‘Spikes’ or ‘Brambles’ Hedgehog food, seems to be well liked. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so milk and cheese can make them very ill, also bread does not contain many nutrients. Current thinking is that mealworms, peanuts and sunflower seeds can also cause long term damage, being high in phosphorus causing their bones to weaken resulting in problems walking- linked to MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease).

• Clear away any leftover food to avoid attracting unwanted visitors or vermin.

• Check before strimming and try not to use chemicals, especially slug pellets.

• Ensure there’s no litter or any netting (such as football goals or bean/pea netting) they could get tangled in. Keep netting at a safe height, at least 1 foot off the ground.