Yes, hedgehogs might eat their bedding, especially paper or wood shavings, often out of curiosity or to create froth for self-anointing, but it's crucial to use safe options like fleece or kiln-dried pine/aspen shavings and avoid dangerous materials like cedar, clay litter, or clumping litters that can cause blockages or respiratory issues. If they eat it, ensure their diet is adequate and switch to a safer bedding like fleece or shredded paper to prevent health problems, says PetMD, Millermeade Farms, and Reddit users.
Acceptable bedding materials include shredded paper, newspaper, recycled pelleted/absorbable material, and wood shavings, such as aspen or untreated pine. Avoid corncob bedding as it tends to grow mold when wet.
Self-Anointing—Many hedgehogs will ingest new bedding to create a froth to self-anoint with it, this is normal. Hunger—Hedgehogs with drastically reduced or inadequate diets may eat bedding in an attempt to satisfy their hunger.
What to feed hedgehogs
Toxic foods for hedgehogs include chocolate, caffeine, dairy products, and certain fruits like grapes and citrus. It's essential to avoid these items to ensure your hedgehog's health and well-being. Always consult your veterinarian for specific dietary advice.
Hedgehogs mainly eat creepy crawlies
The majority of their diet is made up of invertebrates (or creepy crawlies). We know what they eat from scientific studies that have analysed hedgehog poo or looked in the stomachs of hedgehogs killed on roads.
If you see a hedgehog using your garden at night then the best thing to do is nothing! This is a perfectly normal occurrence and you should be happy that your garden can support these declining mammals. If you see a hedgehog out during the day in summer then it could be a mother popping out to find food or water.
Placing natural materials like leaves, dry grass, straw or hay in it will make it feel more natural for the hog. It certainly seems to encourage hogs to move into hedgehog houses. The hedgehog may well pull all of your bedding out and either rearrange it or replace it with her own.
“Going natural with feeding your hedgehogs can help as rats aren't keen on slugs and snails, and finding them will certainly keep the children entertained.” “Any food or food waste stored outside or in out houses really need to be kept secure as this is a really treat and certainly attracts both rats and mice.”
Hedgehogs often comfort their owners with cuddles, licks, and offer their paws or cuddly bellies for rubs. Their defences completely drop if they are able to form a close connection with their hedgie parents.
This decline is partly due to a loss of natural habitat, which provides both shelter and food for hedgehogs. Fencing, pesticides, garden hazards (like ponds, strimmers and netting) and development and construction also have an impact. And of course, cars are a major threat to hedgehogs, killing thousands each year.
A recycled newspaper bedding (Carefresh or similar product) should be used as a substrate for your hedgehog. Make the bedding several inches thick as hedgehogs like to burrow. The bedding should be replaced at least weekly, and changed more often as needed.
Only solid bottom cages are suitable for hedgehogs, any wire bottom cages could trap their legs or rip off toenails. Provide a soft bedding free of dust, such as recycled paper pellets or if you use wood shavings use only kiln dried pine or aspen. Do not use cedar shavings as they could irritate your hedgehog's lungs.
Reusing Our Wastepaper for Hedgehogs Bedding Down for the Winter. Taziker's latest initiative is to help save one of the UK's most iconic, beloved mammals by donating and supplying shredded paper to a hedgehog rescue.
Creating the Ideal Sleep Environment
Hedgehogs instinctively build nests known as hibernacula using dry leaves, moss, and other materials to provide insulation. These nests are typically found in sheltered woodland areas, offering hedgehogs a warm and secure place to sleep.
Hedgehogs will not usually eat and sleep in the same place so it's best not to offer food inside the home (except perhaps to tempt them in initially). Once there is a resident, move food away from the box so as not to attract predators or rival hedgehogs to the site.
Bedding to Avoid
It's worth clearing out the hedgehog home every year or two. You can do this in April, after their hibernation but before hedgehogs start producing hoglets. However, the ideal time is in October before they go into hibernation, and after most of the litters have been weaned.
Hedgehogs are solitary animals in the wild, so they may be shy and wary of people. Building trust with a pet hedgehog takes time, patience, and a gentle approach. If you get a hedgehog when it's young and slowly acclimate it to being handled, they can be playful, but they may never become cuddly.
It's a good idea to put out food for hedgehogs all year round. In spring, it will be a boost for those emerging from hibernation, while in late summer and autumn it will help them build up those all-important fat reserves to survive the colder months.
Hedgehogs typically hibernate from autumn to spring (October - March), but this can vary depending on the temperature and food available.
Despite their preference for limited physical affection, once your pet hedgehog has adapted to being handled and settled into its environment, you can gently stroke their quills and allow them to climb up your arms and explore various areas under supervision.
Sadly with reduction in their natural habitat and the use of chemicals, they now also depend on us to supplement their diet. Please DO NOT feed milk, bread, nuts, mealworms - these can cause significant harm. Also hedgehogs cannot digest fruit and vegetables.
Making Friends With a Hedgehog