Hedgehogs in Gardens: Where They Live Wild and How to Help
Where Hedgehogs Live Wild
The European hedgehog is native to the UK, Ireland and much of western and northern Europe; a close relative, the northern white-breasted hedgehog, lives further east. Hedgehogs were also taken to New Zealand by settlers in the 1800s and are now widespread there.
There are no wild hedgehogs in North America or Australia. Pet hedgehogs there are African pygmy hedgehogs, a different species with its own needs and legal restrictions in some places; see African pygmy hedgehogs as pets. Never release a pet hedgehog outdoors.
New Zealand: A Pest, Not a Guest
New Zealand's Department of Conservation (DOC) treats hedgehogs as a pest. DOC says they eat the eggs and chicks of native birds, lizards and native insects and snails, and cannot coexist with endangered species there. So in New Zealand, don't feed hedgehogs or encourage them into your garden. DOC's hedgehog page explains its advice for gardeners and trapping groups.
Everything below is for the UK, Ireland and Europe, where hedgehogs belong and have declined.
Hedgehog Highways
Hedgehogs travel a long way each night to find food and mates, and closed-in gardens stop them. Hedgehog Street, a campaign run by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People's Trust for Endangered Species, recommends a gap 13 cm by 13 cm (about 5 inches square) in fences and walls: big enough for any hedgehog, too small for nearly all pets.
- Cut a small hole at the bottom of a fence, remove a brick from the base of a wall, or dig a channel under a gate.
- Talk to your neighbors so the route carries on beyond your garden.
- Label the gap so nobody blocks it by mistake, and add it to Hedgehog Street's BIG Hedgehog Map.
Food and Water
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society suggests good-quality meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food, or dry cat biscuits, with meat as the first ingredient. Fresh water only to drink, in a shallow dish. Never give milk or bread.
- Set up a few feeding spots around the garden so hungry hedgehogs don't fight over one dish.
- A simple feeding station (a box with a small entrance) keeps cats and foxes off the food.
- Clean dishes after every use, keep them separate from your own kitchen things, and wash your hands afterward.
- Feeding helps, but natural food matters most: log piles, leaf litter and a pesticide-free lawn are full of beetles and caterpillars.
Hedgehog Houses, Food and Feeding Stations
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For gardens where hedgehogs live wild. Pick a sturdy, untreated wooden house and food with meat as the first ingredient.
Making Your Garden Safe
- Strimmers and mowers: check long grass, hedge bottoms and leaf piles by hand before you cut.
- Bonfires: build the pile on the day you light it, or move it to a new spot first, and check underneath before lighting.
- Ponds: give every pond a sloping edge or ramp so a hedgehog that falls in can climb out.
- Netting: lift sports nets and garden netting off the ground at night; hedgehogs get tangled.
- Slug pellets and pesticides: skip them. They remove the food hedgehogs eat and can harm the animals themselves.
- Litter and holes: cover drains and holes, and keep plastic rings and cans out of the garden.
- Winter: hedgehogs hibernate through the cold months, roughly November to March in the UK depending on the weather. Leave compost heaps and leaf piles alone then.
Found a Hedgehog Out in the Day?
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society says a hedgehog out in daylight could be a sign of distress. Wearing gloves, put it in a high-sided box with a towel, keep it somewhere quiet, and call a local hedgehog rescue or the society's helpline (01584 890 801, UK) for advice. Don't try to look after it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about wild hedgehogs.
What can I feed hedgehogs?
Meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food, or dry cat biscuits, with meat as the first ingredient, plus a shallow dish of fresh water. Never milk or bread.
How big should a hedgehog highway hole be?
Hedgehog Street recommends 13 cm by 13 cm, about 5 inches square. That lets any hedgehog through but is too small for nearly all pets.
Is it normal to see a hedgehog in the day?
Not usually. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society says a hedgehog out in daylight could be in distress, so contain it in a box with a towel and call a hedgehog rescue for advice.
Are there wild hedgehogs in the US or Australia?
No. Wild hedgehogs live in the UK, Ireland and much of Europe, and were introduced to New Zealand. Pet hedgehogs in the US and elsewhere are African pygmy hedgehogs.
Should I help hedgehogs in New Zealand?
No. The Department of Conservation treats them as a pest because they eat native birds' eggs and chicks, lizards and insects. Follow DOC's advice.
Do hedgehog houses work?
They can give hedgehogs somewhere to nest or hibernate. Put one in a quiet, shady corner, out of the wind, and leave it alone through winter.
Related Reading
- Wildlife ponds: with an easy way out.
- Wildlife-friendly garden: log piles, wild corners and more.
- African pygmy hedgehogs as pets: the African pygmy hedgehog, a different animal.
If you find a hedgehog that is injured, out in the day or very small in late fall, contact a local hedgehog rescue or a vet for advice. Don't try to care for it yourself.