HEDGEHOGS · GARDEN · FIRST AID
Frequently Asked Questions About Hedgehogs
What really helps a hedgehog, when should you intervene and what is better left in the category of well-meant but unhelpful? Here are the most important questions in a compact overview.
I have a hedgehog in my garden. How can I help?
A natural, accessible garden helps most: piles of leaves and branches, dead wood, dense shrubs and wild corners provide food and shelter. Gaps in fences allow hedgehogs to move between gardens.
A shallow, stable bowl of fresh water is especially useful during dry periods. Avoid poisons and pesticides whenever possible.
Important: Do not run robotic lawn mowers at dusk or at night. Before using a brush cutter or trimmer under shrubs or in tall grass, always check whether a hedgehog is resting there.
If you cannot provide a natural shelter, you can also set up a hedgehog house. Here is my hedgehog sleeping house.
What food is suitable for hedgehogs?
The best foundation remains a natural garden with sufficient natural food. Supplementary feeding can be useful in certain situations, but should not become a permanent substitute for natural food.
For a hedgehog in need of help, the German Animal Welfare Federation recommends, among other things, high-quality wet cat food with a high meat content as well as hard-boiled egg or unseasoned scrambled egg. For sick animals, feeding should be coordinated with an experienced rescue centre or veterinarian.
Fresh water should always be available. Milk is unsuitable. Fruit and vegetables are also not appropriate food for hedgehogs.
Commercial “hedgehog food” is not automatically suitable. The ingredients matter more than the picture on the packaging.
Do I need a feeding house?
No. Food and water can also be offered in shallow, stable bowls in a sheltered spot. The bowls should be cleaned daily and leftover food removed.
A feeding house becomes useful if cats or other larger animals regularly help themselves. Labyrinth-style entrances can make access more difficult for larger visitors.
Hedgehogs can be rather rough with one another, so enough space is helpful. If several animals visit, multiple feeding spots are often calmer than one crowded buffet.
I see a hedgehog during the day. Does it automatically need help?
No, not automatically. Hedgehogs are mainly active at dusk and during the night, but there are exceptions. A healthy hedgehog that has been disturbed may look for a new shelter during the day. Nursing females can also travel between nests in daylight.
You should pay closer attention if a daytime hedgehog also appears weak or apathetic, staggers, is noticeably thin, has sunken eyes or a pronounced hunger fold at the neck, is injured or lies exposed for a long time.
In that case, contact a hedgehog rescue centre or a veterinarian experienced with hedgehogs.
When does a hedgehog actually need human help?
Animals that are injured, obviously ill or helpless, orphaned hoglets, and noticeably weak or emaciated hedgehogs urgently need help.
Animals still active after the onset of winter should also be assessed more closely. The German Animal Welfare Federation gives roughly 1,000 g for adult hedgehogs and at least 550 g for young hedgehogs as guidance before hibernation. Weight alone never replaces an assessment of the whole animal; if in doubt, consult an experienced rescue centre.
Healthy wild animals should not be collected as a precaution. Under German nature conservation law, injured, helpless or sick animals may be taken in for care and must be released again once they can survive independently.
I found a hedgehog that needs help. What should I do first?
First, secure the animal carefully, for example in a sufficiently high cardboard box. If the hedgehog is clearly cold, a lukewarm heat source can help. Fresh water and suitable food may be offered.
For open injuries, fly eggs or maggots, severe weakness, breathing problems or other obvious signs of illness, seek expert help as quickly as possible.
Do not give medication, flea treatment or dewormers on your own. Incorrect products or dosages can cause serious harm to hedgehogs.
Current specialist information is available, among other places, from the German Animal Welfare Federation and the German Wildlife Foundation. In urgent cases, a hedgehog rescue centre or a veterinarian experienced with hedgehogs is a better contact than a message via this website.
In urgent cases, specialised Facebook groups can often provide a quick initial assessment or point you towards rescue centres nearby:
How can I tell male and female hedgehogs apart?
The main visible difference is the position of the genital opening.
In a male, the penile opening is much farther forward on the abdomen and looks a little like a belly button. In a female, the genital opening is immediately in front of the anus.
The following image shows the difference schematically. Click it for a larger view.
Further Information
For medical questions and the practical care of a hedgehog in need, specialist organisations are a better source than a general FAQ. Useful current information is available from the German Animal Welfare Federation, the German Wildlife Foundation and the LBV.
Still Have a Question?
For general questions about the project or my hedgehog houses, feel free to contact me. In an acute emergency, please contact a hedgehog rescue centre or a veterinarian experienced with hedgehogs directly.