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Feeding hedgehogs
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Please feed hedgehogs only in moderation
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Regular feeding, and offering large amounts of food, can cause problems for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are wild animals, and dependency on humans can take a toll. They need their natural caution and shyness to protect themselves and stay away from traffic, aggressive humans and dogs.
In addition, you may create health issues, such as tartar on the teeth, overgrown claws, obesity or kidney damage if you use pet food or any kind of kitchen scraps. Having several hedgehogs visiting the same feeding station also can spread illness. Arterivirus is now a new hedgehog disease challenging the UK population. It can be dormant, cause symptoms or even kill a hedgehog. It spreads through saliva and other body fluids. (It is not dangerous to humans or pets). Feeding makes sense at particular times of the year
At all other times of the year: if you still want to put food out, feed only sparingly and irregularly, just supplementing their natural food, not replacing it. Also never feed at the same, regular times - otherwise you may put hedgehogs and foxes on the same schedule, creating difficult encounters in your garden. |
How to put the food out for hedgehogs
Offer the food as naturally as possible. Don't put all the food in one place, otherwise hedgehogs may fight for the food. Toss a little food into hidden corners, behind large planters and into long grass. Rather than using a plate, put food directly on the ground. Some people use feeding stations to keep foxes and cats away from the hedgehog food. They carry a certain risk of spreading disease among hedgehogs. If you use them, keep them clean, by washing them after each use with an animal safe antibacterial/antiviral detergent. Make sure to rinse them well and don’t use detergents with strong smells. Keep hedgehog dishes and cleaning equipment separate from your own. |
What you can use for feeding
Cat or dog food
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You can offer meaty cat or dog food, wet or dry. Check on the pouch that meat is listed as the number one ingredient. Choose options with no grains or veggies. Most hedgehogs do not like fishy flavors.
Dry food is better for their teeth (crunching kibbles helps avoid tartar build-up), but wet food gives them some additional fluids. If you suspect rats in your garden, then wet dog food is the best choice. Don’t overfeed hedgehogs with pet food - it can give them kidney problems if overused over a long period of time. |
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Hedgehog food
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High quality hedgehog food may be a healthier option for hedgehogs. However, this market is not regulated; anybody can sell cheap ingredients as 'hedgehog food'. Some brands can damage hedgehogs, containing mealworms, peanuts, or even porridge oats.
We have not researched this market, but we hear from other rescues that they trust the following brands:
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What not to feed
Hover over the pictures for more information
No pet or human medication, no flea sprays!
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NEVER use human remedies, pet medication or parasite treatment on hedgehogs (unless prescribed by a vet). Cat flea sprays can kill hedgehogs.
If you see a tick on a hedgehog, don't worry - ticks are normal for them and don't need to be removed. Up to 10 ticks pose no problem for an otherwise healthy hedgehog. More may indicate a health issue - contact us for advice. If you hear a hedgehog coughing or see it limping, NEVER give it any medication. Ask a rescue for help. Maggots or fly eggs (they look like tiny rice grains) on a hedgehog are considered a medical emergency. One fly can kill a hedgehog! Still, do not use chemicals. Don't delay and contact us, or get in touch with your nearest rescue |