Wild Hedgehog Feeding and Garden Support

Supplementary garden feeding supports hedgehog populations particularly during dry summers when earthworms are scarce and autumn before hibernation.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs can visit up to 20 gardens per night in search of food
Dry summers reduce earthworm availability causing hedgehog food stress
Autumn feeding helps hedgehogs build fat reserves before hibernation
Appropriate foods include kitten or puppy food and specialist hedgehog food
Milk and bread cause digestive problems and should never be provided

Welfare Considerations

Supplementary feeding provides genuine welfare benefit to individual hedgehogs particularly during food scarcity periods. Providing appropriate food in connected gardens supports hedgehogs with the nutritional resources needed for reproduction and hibernation survival. Monitoring visits using hedgehog footprint tunnels enables counting of local individuals. Connecting gardens through hedgehog highways maximises the benefit of feeding by allowing access from a wider foraging range.

What You Can Do

Provide appropriate kitten food or hedgehog food in a low flat dish
Avoid milk bread and fish-based foods that cause harm
Provide fresh water alongside food particularly in dry weather
Install a hedgehog feeding station that excludes other animals
Record hedgehog visits to contribute to hedgehog population monitoring