In recent years, hedgehog populations have been declining due to habitat loss and difficulty finding food in our increasingly urban areas. That's why these prickly pals need our help to keep their numbers up!
Fortunately, small steps on our part will surely make the life of these tiny creatures significantly easier and there are several things we can do to help our spikey friends. The easiest thing we can do is to provide them with food and clean drinking water when the resources accessible to them are scarce, particularly during autumn and early spring.
What To Feed Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are a well-loved mammal in the UK, yet very few people will know how to care for them. If you're wondering, "What can you feed hedgehogs?", we've got the answer!
Hedgehogs are insectivores and can often travel a mile or more a night in search of food. While they prefer insects, they are opportunistic eaters and will happily feed on anything from bird eggs to dry food like pet biscuits and shop-bought hedgehog food.
Here at Really Wild Bird Food, we stock a full range from biscuits to wet food. Here are some of our most popular:
If you would like to put extra treats out for your hedgehogs, we also stock a few little hoggie snacks! We recommend our Hedgehog Niblets or our Dried Calci-Worms in particular.
What Vegetables Can Hedgehogs Eat?
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Leafy Greens
- Asparagus
Vegetables make great hedgehog snacks! Please be aware that not all vegetables are safe though. Hedgehogs cannot eat starchy vegetables such as corn, potatoes and carrots, as well as all dried vegetables.
What Not To Feed Hedgehogs
As well as the veggies mentioned above, the following food should NOT be put out for hedgehogs:
- Milk or any dairy products
- Bread
- Mealworms (these are thought to cause health problems when eaten in large quantities)
- Artificial preservatives
- Died fruit
How To Feed Hedgehogs in the Garden
The best way to feed hedgehogs in the garden is to put hedgehog food in a small shallow-sided bowl like our Ceramic Hedgehog Bowl. Hedgehogs will also greatly appreciate readily available fresh drinking water.
Research suggests that 'unpredictable supplementary feeding' is the most beneficial and can help reduce the competition for food between hedgehogs. This involves moving the feeding spot around and scattering food in a natural way. It is also a great idea to make your own DIY feeding station to help keep food and water from weather, debris and pesky cats! Just make sure the entrance is too small for a cat to fit through.
For more wildlife feeding advice, stay up to date with our latest news! If you need any further assistance on the topic of feeding hedgehogs, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team.
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