Hedgehog Information This small leaflet is to give you a few basic facts about hedgehogs.
It tells you what to do if you find a sick or injured hedgehog & gives a few tips on making your garden “hedgehog friendly”
Dangers and Hazards Hedgehogs are very inquisitive creatures and get into all sorts of problems:
Drains and Holes
Keep them covered, Hedgehogs can easily get jammed in holes and pipes
Pesticides & Slug Pellets and other Poisons
Many of these are poisonous to hedgehogs. The hog may also die if it has eaten a poisoned slug or insect. Explore other methods of pest control. Many wood preservatives and other garden products are poisonous to hedgehogs and other wildlife. Ask your Garden Centre for an environmentally safe product.
Rubbish
Hedgehogs can get stuck in tins, plastic containers, ice cream cups and plastic rings from drink cans etc. They can get cut by broken glass. Keep all rubbish wrapped and safe and never throw it on the ground, always use a rubbish bin.
Bonfires and Compost Heaps
Piles of garden rubbish are often used as nests. Always check the bonfire carefully before lighting it. Take care when forking through the compost heap or other piles of rubbish - You might disturb a sleeping hedgehog or a nest of babies.
Lawnmowers and Strimmers
Look in the long grass before digging or mowing as a hedgehog might be sleeping there, Take extra care with strimmers which kill and maim thousands of hedgehogs every year.
Barbed Wire, String Netting and Tennis Nets
Put these away after use and keep them at least 1 foot above ground level, whilst in use. Hedgehogs often get hopelessly tangled and will die.
Oil and Paint
If a hedgehog falls into these wash him with warm water and washing up liquid. Make sure you keep him warm afterwards and dry him properly. It’s always a good idea to take him to your local vet, to make sure he is ok.
Swimming Pools and Ponds
Leave an escape route from ponds and swimming pools. Make a ramp so they can scramble out. Hedgehogs can swim but they will drown if they cannot get out of the water.
Please be aware of Dangers in your garden
Be on danger patrol in your garden, not only for hedgehogs, but also for other wildlife. How many Hazards can you find?
Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:44 pm
