Wildlife

Hedgehog Supplementary Feeding Guidelines

Supplementary feeding of hedgehogs can support individual welfare but requires following evidence-based guidelines.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs visiting gardens benefit from supplementary meat-based cat or dog food
Bread and milk cause digestive problems and should never be offered to hedgehogs
Water provision is particularly valuable in dry summer conditions
Supplementary feeding should not replace habitat improvement as the primary conservation action
Purpose-made hedgehog food is available from wildlife organisations and pet shops

Welfare Considerations

Supplementary feeding can support individual hedgehog welfare during periods of low natural food availability, particularly in summer drought and after hibernation emergence. However, dependency on supplementary food without habitat improvement does not address the underlying causes of hedgehog decline and should always be combined with garden habitat creation.

What You Can Do

Provide meat-based cat food and fresh water in a shallow dish for hedgehogs
Install a hedgehog feeding station to exclude cats and foxes from the food
Log hedgehog visits with the Big Hedgehog Map to contribute to population monitoring
Create wildflower patches and log piles alongside supplementary feeding to support prey availability