Wild Mammal: Hedgehog Hibernation Welfare

Hedgehog hibernation is a physiologically demanding process with specific welfare requirements for sufficient weight, appropriate nest sites, and absence of disturbance.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs need to weigh at least 450g before hibernation to survive winter in the UK
Insufficient fat reserves cause hedgehogs to wake during winter, burning calories they cannot replace
Mild winters with intermittent warm spells cause disruptive arousal, exhausting hedgehog fat reserves
Well-insulated nests deep in leaf litter, log piles, or hedgehog houses maintain appropriate temperatures
Disturbed hibernation sites cause hedgehogs to rebuild nests elsewhere, wasting energy reserves

Welfare Considerations

Hibernation is physiologically demanding and hedgehogs that enter it underweight face near-certain starvation. Supplementary autumn feeding helps underweight hedgehogs reach target weight before their first hibernation. Avoiding disturbance of known hibernation sites throughout winter prevents life-threatening energy expenditure. Climate change creating mild winters with frequent arousals is an emerging welfare threat.

What You Can Do

Provide supplementary food in autumn to help hedgehogs reach hibernation weight
Install a hedgehog house in a sheltered garden location
Avoid disturbing garden areas used for hibernation from November to March
Check bonfires and compost heaps for hedgehogs before disturbing
Contact a wildlife rehabilitator about underweight hedgehogs found in autumn