Attracting Hedgehogs

[Ian H]

Is there a way I could attract Hedgehogs into my garden?

The only ones I have seen in recent years have been dead in the road and I doubt my kids have ever seen a live one.

 

[Mottie]

Leave some cat food out although that might attract foxes. Be careful though - they are usually running alive with fleas and tics. You might not see any this time of year as if not already, they will be hibernating soon. Plenty meet their end when they hibernate inside bonfires!

 

[JohnD]

keep it untidy

I have a pile of prunings in a corner of my garden, and I throw autumn leaves over it. Also cut some holes in the bottom of your fences, or, if you have concrete gravel boards, space the corner ones. You need a gap about 150mm square or tunnel-shaped. you can nail on (or paint) hedgehog-shaped signs above to discourage people from obstructing them. a cat or dog will not get through. They roam around so give access under or beside gates and sheds in and out of your garden and neighbours. They like untidiness and bushes to hide under.

rotting treetrunks are good for snails and insects.

I don't know if they need water but a shallow dish sunk into the ground will collect rainwater, and you can hose it clean. They must be able to climb out.

https://ptes.org/shop/hedgehog-highways-signs/hedgehog-highway-labels/

https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/shop/product/hedgehog-highway-sign/

http://www.housebeautiful.co.uk/garden/news/a2722/hedgehog-highways-garden/

 

[Keithmac]

Just make sure you don't attract rats at the same time..

 

[Ian H]

I'll leave some cat food in a pile of twigs and see if any are interested.

I wonder how common they are?

 

[Tigercubrider]

I took part in a hedgehog survey last year and (as a licences experiment with the uni) trapped hedgehogs which were weighed and released the next night
Basically leave an area rough, they follow routes so a path through the garden Is good, we used a dry hedgehog food- little biscuit type things
Make a site for a nest, either just a big pile of material or a built box with bedding

 

[crystal ball]

During the lighter summer months we had a regular hedgehog visitor who hoovered up dried mealworms and occasionally got frisky with his ladyfriend on our patio

 

[gasbanni]

Marvelous thing Google !


https://www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/cms/tips-and-advice/tips-for-success/hedgehogs/

 

[^woody^]

Have you tried tarmacing all the garden and drawing a white line down the middle?

 

[Ian H]

Have you tried tarmacing all the garden and drawing a white line down the middle?

I did but ripped it up to stop you trying to snort the line up a five pound note.


Seems like I might have missed the bus for this year but I'll leave a rough corner and put some food out just in case. If I got a couple of hedgehog shaggers it would be great!!!

 

[Ian H]

I took part in a hedgehog survey last year and (as a licences experiment with the uni) trapped hedgehogs which were weighed and released the next night

How many did you catch?

 

[Notch7]

Dried hedgehog food:

https://www.arkwildlife.co.uk/Item/...og_Foods/AHFO/Ark_Hedgehog_Food_Original.html

£3.90 for 1kg

 

[blightyma]

We have two hedgehog boxes in the garden and until recently, we had 3 hedgehogs visiting. They like mealworm, crushed nuts and sunflower seeds. I wouldn't recommend cat food (they prefer dog food anyway) as it does attract foxes and foxes will attack hedgehogs. Plenty of water too, ours drink a lot of water. We put up new fences this year and they lost their gaps, so we cut out a hedgehog gap in the gate and they soon learned to use that instead

Good luck next year Ian, I hope you get some in the garden! There is something lovely about a hedgehog, esp when they get used to you being around. I've topped up their food on their plates and they just got to the stage where they didn't run away at all.

 

[Notch7]

We have two hedgehog boxes in the garden and until recently, we had 3 hedgehogs visiting. They like mealworm, crushed nuts and sunflower seeds. I wouldn't recommend cat food (they prefer dog food anyway) as it does attract foxes and foxes will attack hedgehogs. Plenty of water too, ours drink a lot of water. We put up new fences this year and they lost their gaps, so we cut out a hedgehog gap in the gate and they soon learned to use that instead

Good luck next year Ian, I hope you get some in the garden! There is something lovely about a hedgehog, esp when they get used to you being around. I've topped up their food on their plates and they just got to the stage where they didn't run away at all.

3 hedgehogs! You must have a very hedgehog friendly garden

I was lucky enough to have just 1 hedgehog, but that was a few years ago! Sadly we dont have any fence gaps, but I might try and cut some, if I can find a spot the neighbours wont spot - I dont want to be accused of being a Victor Meldrew

Hedgehog boxes....I reckon I could find space for a couple.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Of course, by next year, attracting hedgehogs may be seen as discriminatory.

As for watching them - well, that could be harassment and/or assault or all sorts of weirdness.

I don't know how David Attenborough has got away with his porn films for so long.