On the matter of slugs..

There have been a couple of television programs of late (sadly BBC) and indeed information on the BBC website which have identified hedgehogs as "slug eaters". To put the record straight a tiny percentage of a hedgehogs diet consists of slugs and snails. Beetles, caterpillars and earthworms are top of the menu, slugs at the bottom, often only eaten when there isn't anything else around. Misinformation such as hedgehogs being slug eaters is frankly counterproductive as then the public take this on board and next all we and other rescues hear is "oh yes, our garden in great for hedgehogs... it's full of slugs".

We are asked how to get rid of slugs and I don't think that there is an easy answer and please never use slug poisen as this also kills the hedgehogs. The easy way to deter hedgehogs from eating slugs is to offer something else. Leaving food out each night for visiting hedgehogs reduces the temptation for them to opt for slugs.

You can buy specific hedgehog food (if you have the funds) or you can leave out dry cat or dog food in meaty flavours and in small or medium breed bite size. We would supplement this with a mix of unsalted crushed peanut nibs, sunflower hearts, sultanas and pet suet pieces at around 90% of the dry food and 10% of this mix. You can keep all of this safe from cats and weather by using an old large storage tub (the plastic type you might store toys in etc), remove the lid, upturn it and cut a 4" square entrance hole on one of the shorter ends, smooth it off and pop the food under this with a brick or planter on top of the tub to anchor it down. Water can be left out in crock plant saucers around the garden, (hedgehogs tend to flip the plastic ones over).