Wildlife Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Supplementary Feeding Welfare

Supplementary feeding of wild hedgehogs can benefit individual animal welfare when done correctly, but requires awareness of potential risks.

Key Facts

Providing wet cat food and water can support hedgehogs struggling in dry conditions
Bread and milk are harmful to hedgehogs and should not be provided
Feeding stations should be inaccessible to cats and foxes to reduce competition and predation risk
Year-round feeding may attract hedgehogs to unsuitable garden areas
Water provision is often more important than food during dry summer periods

Welfare Considerations

Supplementary feeding of garden hedgehogs is one of the most accessible ways individuals can directly improve wild animal welfare. Done correctly, it provides caloric support during food-scarce periods and water when natural sources are limited. Done incorrectly - with inappropriate foods or in risky locations - it can cause harm. Education on correct supplementary feeding practices maximises the welfare benefit of this widely practised behaviour.

What You Can Do

Provide appropriate food for hedgehogs: wet cat food and water, not bread or milk
Install a feeding station that reduces competition from cats and foxes
Join citizen science hedgehog monitoring programmes to contribute to population data