Wild Hedgehog Supplementary Feeding: Evidence and Best Practice

Supplementary feeding of garden hedgehogs is popular but evidence about benefits and risks informs best practice for maximising welfare impact.

Key Facts

Supplementary feeding can support hedgehogs through food-scarce periods but should not replace natural foraging
Appropriate foods include dog or cat food (meat-based) and specialist hedgehog food - not milk or bread
Feeding stations that exclude cats and foxes maximise hedgehog access and reduce competition
Autumn supplementary feeding helps underweight hedgehogs achieve hibernation weight
Water provision alongside food is important especially during dry summer periods

Welfare Considerations

Garden supplementary feeding for hedgehogs provides genuine welfare benefit when done correctly. Hedgehogs face habitat loss, reduced invertebrate prey, and increasing challenges reaching optimal hibernation weight. Supplementary food provided in cat-proof feeding stations, alongside fresh water and with access holes to enable movement between gardens, addresses multiple welfare needs simultaneously. Poor feeding practice - bread and milk cause digestive harm, and supplementary feeding without garden access through boundary gaps provides less benefit.

What You Can Do

Provide a hedgehog feeding station with meat-based food and water in your garden
Create a hedgehog highway through your boundary fence or wall
Avoid bread, milk, and sweet foods which cause digestive harm to hedgehogs
Monitor hedgehog weight if found underweight in autumn and contact a rehabber if below 500g