How To Create A Hedgehog Friendly Garden: 5 Essential Tips
Hedgehogs are not just adorable, but also necessary if you want to have a healthy garden ecosystem. These little mammals are super beneficial to keep around your property and it also helps them out as well. Hedgehogs are often called a gardener’s best friend as they are a great form of natural pest control. And that’s just one of their many benefits. If you want to enjoy the benefits of having these little guys around, you will need to make your outdoor space more inviting. On the bright side, there are a number of things you can in order to give hedgehogs a home in your garden. Today we will show you how to easily create a hedgehog friendly garden, so you can attract more of these prickly little creatures.
Hedgehogs are super beneficial to keep around your property
In this article
How To Create A Hedgehog Friendly Garden
Due to habitat loss and other factors, the hedgehog population is sadly on the decline. That’s why it is vital to help make your outdoor space more welcoming to these little mammals. But not only will you be helping with conservation of their kind, you will also have a loyal ally in the garden. Hedgehogs are really beneficial to keep around. Plus, they are a real joy to watch running around your garden. So, if you want to attract more of these cute creatures to your property, read on to find out how to create a hedgehog friendly space.
The hedgehog population is sadly on the decline
#Provide access to your garden
While having a fence around your property is a must in most cases. It provides privacy and keeps unwanted visitors out. However, hedgehogs thrive when they have the opportunity to run around the neighborhoods in search of mates and food. The increase in fencing is one of the main reasons hedgehogs are endangered. They simply need more than one garden to thrive. However, you can’t remove all your fencing and leave your property vulnerable. What you can do is to leave a small gap under the fence. An opening of no more than 13 square cm at ground level. This is plenty of space for them to get in and out.
Leave a small gap under the fence
#Remove hazards
For your garden to be hedgehog friendly, you need to make sure there are no potential hazards lying around. Cover any drains or open holes around the garden, as they can be potential traps. Remove netting and anything that can be mistakes for food, like slug pellets. Hedgehogs will be doing the pest control, so no need for such things. Get rid of sharp tools and bright artificial lights as well.
Remove any sharp tools lying around
#Add a hedgehog home
Hedgehogs will make anyplace that has available shelter their house. So, if you want them to feel truly at home in your garden, add a place for them to safe. Somewhere secure where they can breed or hibernate. And if there is year round food supply, even better. You can easily provide this shelter. Hedgehogs love log piles and leaf piles as there is plenty of bedding material and they have an abundance of bugs. However, you can also build your very own hedgehog home. Just make sure to put it outside well before hedgehog hibernation season comes, so the home can smell like the garden.
Hedgehogs love log piles and leaf piles
#Provide food and water
Even if there are plenty of pests hedgehogs can snack on in your garden, it’s still a good idea to leave out fresh water and food for them. These little creatures can eat wet cat food, granules, unsalted chopped nuts, cooked chicken bites, cooked minced meat, apples, pears, berries, carrots, peas, and so on. You can also buy special hedgehog food that is formulated for their needs.
Leave out fresh water and food for them
#Add a pond or water feature
Having a pond or some type of water feature is a sure way to attract this tiny mammal. Hedgehogs will gladly stop by for a sip or even a swim. Just make sure all bodies of water are safe. While hedgehogs are great swimmers, they need an easy way out of the water if they fall in. Concrete pods can be a real struggle for them. So, make sure there is a way they can easily get in and get out.
Concrete pods can be a real struggle for hedgehogs
These were all the tips and tricks you need to know when it comes to creating a hedgehog friendly garden. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can attract more of these cute creatures to your property and enjoy all the benefits that come with them!
These were all the tips and tricks you need to know when it comes to creating a hedgehog friendly garden
Related Articles
