Helping hedgehogs move around and find shelter

The European hedgehog is a protected species in most of Europe, and a valuable ally in the garden: at night, it often travels a long way in search of insects, worms and slugs. What it lacks most are passages between gardens and quiet shelters to sleep in during the day and spend the winter.

A 13 × 13 cm gap, cut at the base of a fence or wire mesh, opens up access to neighbouring gardens without letting most dogs through. A wooden refuge, placed in a quiet corner, sheltered from prevailing winds and covered with leaves or branches, can serve as a resting place or a hibernation site. Also leave a pile of dead leaves and a less tidy corner of the garden.

To help it without causing harm, remember a few rules: never milk, a clean water dish, no chemical slug pellets, and a check before running the brush cutter. It's all covered in The hedgehog in the garden: welcoming it without disturbing it.

An animal that needs space

The hedgehog is a nocturnal, insectivorous mammal, protected in most of Europe. It travels a great deal each night to find food, and a single enclosed garden isn't enough for it. The first useful step is therefore to link gardens together with gaps of around 13 × 13 cm, made at the base of fences.

The refuge

A refuge offers a safe place to rest during the day, give birth or spend the winter. Choose an untreated wooden model, with a staggered entrance or a tunnel that limits access for predators. Install it in a quiet corner, sheltered from prevailing winds, against a hedge or covered with branches and dead leaves. Slip a little straw or dry leaves inside, without filling it.

Food and water

A living garden, rich in insects, worms and slugs, remains its best resource. Offer a shallow water dish, especially during dry spells. Never give it milk, which it digests poorly, or bread. If you need to help out occasionally, for example during a drought, a few cat biscuits can do the trick.

A safe garden

• Give up chemical slug pellets and pesticides.
• Check long grass and piles of leaves before strimming.
• Don't use a robotic mower at night.
• Fit ponds with an exit ramp.
• Cover drains and holes it could fall into.

A hedgehog in difficulty

A hedgehog seen in broad daylight, injured or very small as winter approaches, probably needs help. Contact a wildlife rescue centre before doing anything.

More advice in The hedgehog in the garden: welcoming it without disturbing it and the project Welcoming a hedgehog.