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  • How can I support?
Become a Foster Carer
Shop
Hog Blog
More
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Trustees
    • Our Volunteers
    • Our Local Supporters
    • Little Snout News
    • Upcoming Events
    • Contact Us
  • Help for Hedgehogs Advice
    • Hedgehog Advice
    • Bringing a hedgehog to us
    • How can I support?
  • Become a Foster Carer
  • Shop
  • Hog Blog
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Trustees
    • Our Volunteers
    • Our Local Supporters
    • Little Snout News
    • Upcoming Events
    • Contact Us
  • Help for Hedgehogs Advice
    • Hedgehog Advice
    • Bringing a hedgehog to us
    • How can I support?
  • Become a Foster Carer
  • Shop
  • Hog Blog

FAQs & Advice

Please review the below FAQs that Heather has provided to support you with your query. Heather has also provided hedgehog safety guidance along with her own illustrations.

If you cannot find the answer to your question, please email hedgehoghostel@gmail.com

Hedgehogs eat a variety of invertebrates, including insects and molluscs, such as earthworms, caterpillars, and beetles. You can also feed them cat food – any variety – even fish! or some hedgehog foods from pet stores and supermarkets. Do not give a hedgehog bread, milk or mealworms.


Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so they are usually not seen during the day. They are most active at night and rest during the day in nests made of vegetation.  The general rule is If it’s out during the day, it is not ok.


Sadly, in the UK, hedgehogs typically live for two to three years, but they can live upwards of 10 years, with the oldest recorded on being 17 years old.


 Here are some ways you can help hedgehogs: 

  • Avoid man-made hazards 
  • Provide suitable nesting places 
  • Don't use slug pellets 
  • Keep dogs under control 
  • Store chemicals safely 
  • Provide a hole in the fence
  • Feed them and provide water


Size is not a definitive way to identify their gender. Males have a large “belly button” in the mid-abdominal region, while females do not. 


Counting hedgehogs is difficult. The most recent estimate of the number of hedgehogs in England, Scotland and Wales puts the figure at 879,000, with about a quarter in urban areas. But there is still a lot of uncertainty about the precise number.  Over half of hedgehogs have been lost from our countryside since the millennium and hedgehogs have disappeared from a third of sites in towns and cities. Here, however, in urban areas, numbers where hedgehogs are still found look like they’re increasing.


Hedgehogs can be difficult to detect, but searching for their footprints is a good way of discovering if they are around. A path of flattened grass is also a good clue.

Both the front and back feet have five toes, though often only four toes show up on the tracks. The front feet are wider, and they look like little hands. The back feet are slimmer and longer and leave correspondingly narrower prints. 


Droppings can vary depending on the diet of the hedgehog. Droppings are usually dark brown-grey or black. They are firm and typically packed with the exoskeletons of invertebrates, such as beetles. Often you will see a dropping on its own, and it will be roughly cylindrical, and sometimes tapered. Droppings sometimes look like a dark slug on the lawn. They range in length from 15-50mm.


 The history of hedgehogs is long and colourful. Hedgehogs are small, spiny mammals that first evolved about 15 million years ago. There are 19 species in five genera of hedgehogs worldwide:  Erinaceus, Paraechinus, Mesechinus, Atelerix and Hemiechinus. They live across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Central Asia. Hedgehogs were introduced to New Zealand from England, and now they are abundant throughout the country, but considered a threat to native wildlife. There are about one million West European hedgehogs living in the UK. The most common pet hedgehog is the African pygmy hedgehog, made famous by many YouTube videos and recognisable by its white fur.


Raising awareness of hedgehog safety

Hedgehog Lawnmower

Hedgehogs hide in long grass!

Hedgehogs hide in long grass!

Hedgehogs hide in long grass!

Hedgehogs need somewhere to snuffle for food when they come out of hibernation. Long grass is the perfect cover, so leave it to grow for longer!!

Hedgehog Daytime Advice

Hedgehogs do not sunbathe!

Hedgehogs hide in long grass!

Hedgehogs hide in long grass!

If they are out in the day time, they are sick, regardless of whether they have an injury or not! Hedgehogs are a nocturnal animal, and being out in the day time means you should seek help quickly!

Hedgehog Fence Advice

Hedgehogs need highways!

Hedgehogs hide in long grass!

Hedgehogs need highways!

To help hedgehogs moving through garden space, ensure that you have a hole in your garden fence to help build a hedgehog highway!  

Hedgehog Flies Advice

Hedgehogs with flystrike

Hedgehogs as short as grass!

Hedgehogs need highways!

Flystrike can be deadly for hedgehogs. Look for little yellow grains stuck to the hedgehog, or lots of fly activity on and around them. In this case, get help as soon as you can!

Hedgehog Nest Advice

Hedgehogs in nests

Hedgehogs as short as grass!

Hedgehogs as short as grass!

If you see a nest, please do not disturb it. A new hedgehog mum can take up to 2 hours to collect and return back with food. Watch from a distance, and only interfere if the animals are in danger.

Hedgehog Strim Advice

Hedgehogs as short as grass!

Hedgehogs as short as grass!

Hedgehogs as short as grass!

Please be extra careful if you do decide to strim or cut your grass as it could be the case that hedgehogs are hiding or snuffling. Please be careful!

Hedgehogs get cold too!

Hedgehogs get cold too!

Hedgehogs get cold too!

During cold snaps, make sure there's plenty of bedding material available and remember they won't just lie outside in open spaces. Watch out for ones caught out by the cold snap.

Copyright © 2024 Heather's Hedgehog Hostel - All Rights Reserved.

Location: 129 High St, Chatteris, PE16 6NP

Charity Number: 1203395


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