Hedgehogs of Loddiswell
Hedgehog Highways
We have many hedgehog sightings around our village and here we aim to show these and work out how hedgehogs move around at night. From this we can help create Hedgehog highways, making easy passage for them as they move around Loddiswell.. As sightings come in we will add them to the map.
Please contact us with your Hedgehog sightings.
How to help Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs in your Garden:
Make your garden Hedgehog friendly with a wildlife area.
Make an escape route from your garden pond with a ramp or shallow area.
Always check overgrown areas before using garden machinery particularly strimmers and mowers.
Take care when using a garden fork or spade in overgrown areas and the compost area.
Slug pellets are poisonous and will kill Hedgehogs. Please do not use them.
Take care with fencing, wire and netting. Keep it off ground level.
Check through your bonfire thoroughly before lighting.
Never feed hedgehogs milk based food or drink. A shallow dish of water is much appreciated by visiting hogs particularly in dry weather.
Cover any holes or pits that a hedgehog may fall into.
Hedgehog Highways
Make a highway in your garden fence. See www.hedgehogstreet.org for further information.
Sign up to a petition to make compulsory Hedgehog Highways in all newbuilds.
Talk to neighbours and encourage your community to create a hedgehog friendly neighbourhood
Hedgehog House
Install a Hedgehog house or feedstation in your garden.
Make your own or purchase. Prickles in a Pickle sell ideal feedstations.
Notice any unusual Hedgehog behaviour?
They should not be out during the daytime (an exception is a nesting female Hog with babies to feed). If unsure always seek advice. Quite often a poorly Hedgehog can easily be saved and returned to the wild with early intervention.
Be Dog Aware
Dogs most likely to attack hedgehogs are Terriers, Lurchers and Huskies, however any dog has the potential to attack and cause serious injury or kill a hedgehog.
It is an extremely traumatic experience not only for the hedgehog but also for the dog owner.
*putting a light on 5 minutes before letting your dog out at night can help
*consider making a dog free zone or highway through your garden
*put your dog on a lead at night in your garden
*Unfortunately once a dog has attacked a hedgehog they are more than likely to do so again
Food, Drink & Access
Never give hedgehogs milk based products.
Leaving out a shallow bowl of fresh water is a most welcome drink-stop on a nightly forage.
Hedgehogs will need to visit ten gardens a night to feed – consider making a hedgehog access gap or ‘highway’ between neighbouring fences.
