HEDGEHOG FACTS The Latin word for hedgehogs is Erinaceous and our own British hedgehog is scientifically known as Erinaceous europaeus. It is the same species that occurs throughout most of the continent of Europe. In Britain it is found almost everywhere except for some of the Scottish islands, but tends to be scarce or absent from wet areas and also from pine forests. Uplands and mountains are not popular, probably because they lack both suitable food and suitable nesting places. Hedgehogs are well-established in our urban habitat and can, somewhat surprisingly, survive very well in our cities, making extremely good use of cemeteries, railway land, wasteland and both public and private gardens. Shakespeare mentions hedgehogs in "The Tempest" and "Midsummer Night's Dream" and he refers to "hedgepigs" and "urchins". DESCRIPTION Everyone is sure to know what a hedgehog looks like. The animal is almost totally covered in 25mm (1") long spines (which are really modified hairs). These are absent from the chest, belly, throat and legs, which are covered with a coarse, grey-brown fur. There are approximately 5,000-7,000 spines on an average adult hedgehog. DIET Hedgehogs are certainly noisy eaters as people who have encountered these animals "at table" will testify; but what do they actually eat? Beetles are a major food item along with caterpillars and earthworms. Most people are aware that hedgehogs are basically insect eaters. However, many householders put out a saucer of cat or dog food for their garden friends. Always ensure that a dish of water is available, especially during the summer months or in extreme weather conditions. The hedgehog will treat this as a welcome supplement to its normal diet and will not go hungry if, for some reason, the food is not put out. GARDEN VISITORS At the risk of disappointing some people, it is worth mentioning the fact that hedgehogs tend to "do the rounds" and visit several gardens within the area. As many as ten different individuals may visit a garden over several nights, which could mean that "Your" hedgehog is in fact a number of different individuals visiting at different times. HELPING YOUR FRIENDS The best ways of assisting hedgehogs are by helping them avoid man-made hazards and providing them with suitable places to nest, especially in winter: SLUG PELLETS - these are poisonous and should only be used where there is a serious slug problem. Pellets should be placed in a pipe or under a slate inaccessible to hedgehogs. Dead slugs must be removed daily. Use other garden pesticides sparingly; you never know what else they might kill or make sick. Always try alternative methods. GARDEN PONDS & SWIMMING POOLS - these can be death traps to small mammals. Always ensure that there are several slipways around the edge of the water to enable animals to escape if they fall in. Half-submerging bricks or rocks around the edges of ponds may make slipways. Alternatively, a piece of chicken wire can be hung over the edge like a scrambling net up which hedgehogs can climb to freedom. Do remember that hoglets will need a longer ramp than an adult hedgehog. CATTLE AND SHEEP GRIDS - Many animals, including hedgehogs and birds, cannot escape from sheer-sided pits beneath these grids. A small ramp or slope in one corner of the pit enables the trapped animals to walk out. OTHER DANGERS - Hedgehogs can become entangled in tennis nets, causing death by starvation. Furl the net well above the ground when not in use. LITTER - Hedgehogs are inquisitive and will try to eat almost anything, a trait that can lead to their undoing. Having been attracted by the remaining contents, hedgehogs have been found with their heads stuck in tins, yoghurt pots and plastic cups. Always cut the plastic rings of "carry 4 pack" plastic holders. To prevent such unnecessary deaths, litter should be disposed of in the proper manner. HEDGEHOGS IN THE GARDEN The hedgehog is known as "the gardener's friend" as it will eat slugs, beetles, caterpillars, etc. and does no harm, so if you have a large garden a hedgehog is to be encouraged. They should not be kept in close captivity, but regarded as honoured visitors and free-ranging pets. FOUND A NEST? If you find a hedgehog nest with babies, it is best not to disturb them if you can help it. If you do have to disturb them, move the complete nest and nesting material and put somewhere quiet and preferably covered. Please do NOT touch the individual hedgehogs as they have an incredible sense of smell and as soon as you touch the babies the mother will not recognise them and abandon them. PARASITES To begin with, hedgehog fleas are species specific, unlike cat fleas, and will NOT breed in your carpet, NOT bite you or your pets and NOT breed on them. If it is necessary to remove fleas from a hedgehog, such as in the case of extreme infestation, then a commercially prepared powder for small birds (not as powerful as flea treatments for larger pets) lightly dusted among the spines (taking care to avoid the eyes of the animal) will be an adequate treatment, but do not use on very young hedgehogs. Blood-sucking ticks are often found on hedgehogs and after taking their fill of blood, will drop off the host in order to complete their life cycle. Removal of these ticks is a difficult task, but can be accomplished by dousing the offending creatures in olive/almond/cooking oil. Removing the ticks using forceps is to be avoided as the inexperienced may leave the head-parts in the skin, which may turn septic. CARING FOR AUTUMN ORPHANS The care of very young hoglets can be very time-consuming and it would be best to seek advice from a wildlife rehabilitator. Hedgehogs may give birth to their hoglets late in the year. Such youngsters will not have enough time to build up sufficient fat reserves to survive hibernation. The absolute minimum weight to see them through the winter is 500g (1 1/4lb), and any hedgehog below this weight is almost certain to die. Autumn "orphans", i.e. youngsters found alone and under this critical weight after the end of September should be housed indoors (it is worth thinking about over-wintering them if they are exactly on this weight. Contact your wildlife centre if in doubt). If the orphan is very young it should be given extra warmth with a hot water bottle wrapped in a blanket, or a heated pad. It should be placed in a box with plenty of clean, fresh hay, crumpled newspapers or old towelling. Out-buildings are fine if heated but don't put hedgehogs on a metal grid or wire floor, or straight onto concrete - they have sensitive feet! A suitable diet includes minced meat, tinned cat or dog food (not fish-based), chicken leftovers (including carcass) and other forms of protein such as scrambled eggs, chopped peanuts and grated cheese. Fibre should also be given by way of breakfast cereal, crushed unsweetened digestive biscuits or cat biscuits. Fresh water should ALWAYS be available. Cow's milk should NOT be given. It does horrible things to their stomachs! Once the animal has reached a weight of between 500g - 600g (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb), release can be considered. Choose a period of relatively warm, damp weather and ensure that plenty of dry nesting material is available for the hedgehog to build a winter nest and hibernate. Also, ensure that the release site is already inhabited by hedgehogs as this is an indication that the area is "hedgehog friendly". If in doubt, do not release until late April when food is more plentiful, allowing the up-to-weight hedgehog to hibernate in a cold house in a box filled with dry, fresh hay. HIBERNATION If you want to attract wildlife to your garden, leave large wild areas and avoid "tidying up" too much. Hedgehogs tend to hibernate between November and mid-March, and may choose the stack of leaves in your garden. For this reason, if you have to get rid of such material, move it to a different spot before setting fire to it; a hedgehog may be sheltering or hibernating in it. They like to nest under things (e.g. sheds, hedges and brushwood) and need plenty of dry leaves to build their nests. FURTHER QUESTIONS Email iwcr@ipswichwildlife.co.uk or call (01473) 401 829