How to help the hedgehog hibernate?

If you find a little prickly fellow in your garden in the fall, the first question that comes to mind is how to help the hedgehog hibernate. You can help the little mammal very well in its preparations for hibernation by following a few things.

Content

How to help the hedgehog hibernate?
- How to help the hedgehog to hibernate
  - The correct feeding in autumn
  - When should you bring the hedgehog indoors in winter?

How to help the hedgehog to hibernate

It is very important that you design your garden close to nature. This means that you simply leave dense bushes, brushwood or dead wood in a corner. Even with a compost heap or a dry cavity under a pile of wood you help the hedgehog to hibernate. Garden sheds or niches under stairs are also popular with the small mammals. With brushwood, leaves and undergrowth, the little guy can insulate his nest and wrap himself in it even in winter. The larger the run pile, the better the thermal insulation for the hedgehog.

The correct feeding in autumn

Depending on the weather, the food supply for the hedgehog decreases significantly in autumn. You can help him with his own feeding station. Serve him wet cat food, unseasoned scrambled eggs, or fried and unseasoned minced meat. The hedgehog will also accept cooked poultry meat. Under no circumstances should you offer him leftovers, fruit or milk. Dry hedgehog food is also only suitable to a limited extent. When buying dry hedgehog food you should make sure that it contains very little grain, nuts and fruit.

To drink you may give the Hedgehog no milk offer, because this contains lactose. Milk sugar is indigestible for the hedgehog and he would get diarrhea from it. In the worst case, he loses so much fluid through the diarrhea that he dries out and dies as a result.

If it has started to freeze or even snow, you must stop feeding immediately. Lack of food causes the hedgehog to hibernate. If you continue to feed him, you will prevent hibernation and keep the hedgehog artificially awake.

When should you bring the hedgehog indoors in winter?

Only in exceptional cases, the hedgehog may spend the winter in the house. This is the case if the hedgehog seems undernourished or if he is ill or injured. You can recognize an underweight hedgehog by the indentation behind his head. Experts refer to this as the starvation line. A sick hedgehog, on the other hand, is apathetic and will not curl up when touched. The eyes look sunken and are slit-like.

You can help an underweight hedgehog with food and shelter. A sick or injured animal must be taken into the care of a vet or a hedgehog rescue center.

Author

Garden animal

Garden animal - A life with nature

Welcome to my animal blog! My name is Dirk and I am happy to take you on my journey through the fascinating world of animals and gardening.

Born 54 years ago, I have had an insatiable curiosity for the animal world around me since childhood. Although I have moved professionally in other industries, my true passion has always been animals and nature. It is remarkable how a small garden has become such an important part of my life.

Many of my fondest memories are associated with the animals that share our home. Whether it's the curious squirrels that scurry across the trees in the morning, the colorful variety of birds that visit our feeders, or the busy bees and butterflies that pollinate our flowers, every moment with them is invaluable to me.

This blog is my contribution to share my experiences, discoveries and insights with like-minded people. Here I will share stories of unforgettable encounters with animals, give tips on gardening and creating wildlife-friendly habitats, and take you on my journeys through nature.

Thank you so much for being here!

Cordial,
Dirk aka garden animal