Hedgehog Hibernation Welfare and Garden Support

Hedgehog hibernation is a critical and vulnerable period. Understanding how to support hedgehogs through winter and when to intervene prevents unnecessary deaths and suffering.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs enter true hibernation between November and March in the UK
They must reach a weight of around 600g before hibernation to survive winter
Underweight hedgehogs that hibernate prematurely die of starvation before spring
Hoglets born late in the season are often underweight and need supplementary feeding
Garden bonfires built days before lighting are frequent hedgehog hibernation sites
Providing food (wet cat food or hedgehog food, not bread/milk) in autumn supports weight gain

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog hibernation welfare involves both preventing premature hibernation in underweight individuals and avoiding disturbance to hibernating animals. An underweight hedgehog that enters hibernation will exhaust its fat reserves before spring and die - a welfare harm that occurs invisibly inside the nest. Autumn feeding stations provide a safety net. Garden bonfire disturbance or mechanical injury (strimmers, lawnmowers) cause acute trauma. Wildlife rescue networks that overwinter underweight hedgehogs found in autumn prevent substantial mortality. These individual welfare interventions aggregate to meaningful population-level effects.

What You Can Do

Set up an autumn hedgehog feeding station with wet cat food or specialist food
Weigh any hedgehog found active in daylight in autumn - under 600g needs help
Contact British Hedgehog Preservation Society if you find an underweight autumn hedgehog
Build bonfires on the day of lighting, not days before, to prevent hedgehog hibernation inside
Leave wild areas of your garden with leaf piles as natural hedgehog hibernation habitat