Supplementary feeding of wild hedgehogs can support individuals through challenging periods but must be done correctly to avoid harm.
Supplementary feeding can directly benefit the welfare of individual hedgehogs experiencing food shortage, particularly during droughts, post-hibernation emergence, and during late summer when lactating females have high energy demands. However, inappropriate foods including bread and milk cause digestive illness. Feeding stations in dangerous locations near roads attract hedgehogs to areas of high mortality risk. Year-round feeding can reduce hibernation preparation in some individuals. Properly managed supplementary feeding programmes, combined with safe garden management and accurate welfare information, provide genuine welfare benefits at minimal risk.