They used to be a common sight, wandering about our gardens and in the fields but now hedgehogs are a rare sight. There were an estimated 36 million of them around in the 1950’s – no there are less than 1 million. Their numbers are falling rapidly even though they are now designated a conservation priority. So what’s going on? They do a lot of good and we all love these little tiggywinkle creatures. We get a lot come in and we saved over 300 hundred of the little fellas last year and released them back in to the wild.
Modern farming practices have a lot to answer for, they clear grassland and copses, grub up hedges and use pesticides. Traditional farming from years ago, which was friendly to wildlife, is mostly a thing of the past. Roads are much busier now, what chance does a little hedgie have when he’s crossing the road. That’s where we can guarantee to see them, squashed by speeding traffic.
Modern gardens tend to be neat and well maintained, if you leave an area to go ‘wild’ then you might get a hedgehog family move in. Providing a small hedgehog hotel (a little shelter) is a great help, remember that hedgies like privacy and a bit of camoflauge is good. Make sure your garden isn’t fenced down to the ground, a few gaps will let them come in and go out again on their noctural wanderings. They like an area of up to two miles to roam, trying to keep them captive isn’t a good idea. Hedgehogs need their freedom.