Hedgehogs in March by Kay Bullen
The flowers are confused; the birds are confused so I guess the hedgehogs will be too. Is it time to get up yet? Well some of the male hedgehogs would normally be awake this month but some of the others might wait longer. So whenever it is that they appear, early or late, we must be ready for them.
Is our garden safe for any visiting hedgehogs we may ask – check the BHPS’s website. The Gardening ‘with’ Hedgehogs leaflet will warn you about some of the dangers in the garden, so perhaps you can get those dangers sorted out before we hit hedgehog season!
Make sure there is plenty of water to drink – you would be thirsty if you had not had a drink for several month and hungry of course. Can the hedgehogs move freely from your garden to your neighbours, have any “hedgehog highways” become overgrown or blocked? Any nest boxes that were definitely unused over the winter could be readied for any new lodgers.
I would not recommend putting a feeding station too close to any nest boxes. If a female has her hoglets in a nest box she would not be happy about other hedgehogs coming close to her new family. Nor would she be happy about any cats that might try their luck at the feeding station. A few dry biscuits could be scattered, initially nearby, or even in the entrance of, an empty nest box but once occupied feed elsewhere. Remember the tip to place a small screwed up piece of paper in an occupied nest box entrance, when it is pushed aside you know a hedgehog has left the nest – but it may also have returned so do not disturb the box.
If you need advice or find a sick or injured hedgehog contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society they can give general advice or Advance Veterinary Care as we are a local hedgehog rehabilitator. Contact them on 01584 890801 or for general visit their web site www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk
