HomesForHedgehogs
How to know if you have a hedgehog in your garden
Author - Lynnette Firth
Although a familiar sight in the UK, spotting a hedgehog in the garden still brings some sense of excitement to any of us. The little brown, prickly humps, shuffling about our lawns; noses twitching with the prospect of a juicy slug to be found. A nocturnal creature, it might prove difficult to spot them during the day. So how would we know if a hedgehog has moved into the neighbourhood? Here are some tell-tale signs to look out for:
Footprints
The footprints of a hedgehog can mostly be found in soft mud or sand. The front feet are wider, almost resembling hands, while the back feet will be slimmer and longer. Look for tracks showing 4 toes instead of 5 as the top toes of the front feet will not make a print. Footprint can be tracked using tracking plates or tunnels. Please be careful when using these and use appropriate guides ono how to make an install to ensure safeguarding of the hedgehogs.
Nests
Hedgehogs are not fond of light, so they will most likely choose the quiet, dark areas of the garden to make their nests. Look out for humps of leaves and grass that is approximately 50 cm in diameter. Remember never to touch or disturb the nests as the hedgehogs will abandon it. Tunnels and gaps in hedges might be a good indication that a hedgehog is roaming in the area.
Droppings
A good way to detect if you have a hedgehog visitor, but you need to have your ‘eye’ in for this. Hedgehog droppings are approximately 5 cm long, sometimes shiny and black in colour. They normally leave their dropping at the edges of flower bedding and hedges.
Food
The hedgehog diet consists of slugs, beetles and other small creatures found in the garden. For the invested person, setting ‘food traps’ is a good option to spot hedgehogs. Just set out dry dog or cat food at night away from lights and wait… patiently!
Sighting
A sure-fire way to know if you have a hedgehog tenant, is by pure and plain sight. Although not too common, it is not unheard of to simply spot a hedgehog in your garden during day time. Hedgehogs are most active at night and sometimes after heavy rainfall. They hibernation of hedgehogs ends in March so they will become slightly more active during this time as they are preparing for breeding conditions. Autumn sees the hedgehog starting foraging just before they go into hibernation and this is when they are at their most active. The month of May is the biggest time for hedgehog mating so you might even be able to hear the loud snorting noises of the female hedgehog.
Once you have discovered a hedgehog in your garden, remember never to touch the nest, make sure there are no rubbish lying around that might harm them and if possibly, prepare safe gaps in your hedge or fence to allow them safe passage onward.
Pictures courtesy of:
https://www.hedgehogstreet.org
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/gardening/2011/06/garden-news-13.shtml