looduskalender.ee

Hedgehog

This spring is difficult for hedgehogs. The ground has not become wet yet – such weather simply has not arrived. It is almost impossible for insect-eating creatures to catch prey during the cold night-time, but they do not become active before dusk.

 

A hedgehog, who fed well before the winter, must have weighed at least eight hundred grams, in order to survive the winter – for almost six months they had to get by with the fat they had stored; the smaller ones did not make it through the winter. Hedgehogs may lose up to half of their autumn-time body mass over the winter.

 

It is quite easy to help hedgehogs in the homeyard: extra food should be placed outside when it is getting dark and you can be certain that the feeding spot will be quickly discovered by the hedgehogs. If you are persistent and do it on set times, it will be easy to see the little creature in action and once the hedgehog has left, you should remove the dish, in order not to attract uninvited guests, rodents or stray cats. There could also be a water container in the garden, which is also gladly used by birds in the homeyard. Keep in mind that the water and food containers need to be cleaned regularly; an old pan suits well for a food plate for hedgehogs.

 

What could one offer?

 

Dry dog or cat food is suitable and it would be good if it was soaked in lukewarm water for two-three hours. About one part of dry food and two parts of lukewarm water. Of course, canned cat food could be given as well, but it is more expensive and is not directly intended for hedgehogs anyway. Hedgehogs generally consume a small amount of food – about seventy grams, however, a hungry individual can gobble even more.

 

Please make sure that the food would not contain salt, spices, raw fish and meat (the latter ones could be given when boiled without salt or baked in the oven – you can put the pieces of meat in the oven for a while, together with your own food). Be sure to avoid milk, although hedgehogs like it. The little organism is not able to break down lactose. Do not offer bread or whitebread – they swell too much in the hedgehog`s stomach and also contain salt and preservatives...

 

Already in April, our hedgehogs go through mating time and after thirty five days of gestation period, three to six newborns can be found in the den with the mother. These little mutterers use lots of energy, therefore, such additional feeding is quite useful. Gardeners know that a hedgehog is a great helper in the homeyard.