No, hedgehogs are nocturnal and should generally not be out during the day, as it usually signals they are sick, injured, or desperate for food/water; exceptions are usually nursing mothers gathering materials or foraging during very short nights, but even then they'll move with purpose, so if you see one that seems wobbly, lethargic, or just wandering aimlessly, it needs urgent help from a wildlife rescue.
Generally, any hedgehog out during the day is probably in trouble and will need to be picked up and taken to a wildlife rescue centre. You can pick them up using gardening gloves and put them into a cardboard box, although they are good climbers, so you would need to ensure it cannot escape.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, which means they shouldn't really be seen out in daylight hours. Some of the exceptions to this are pregnant females gathering nesting materials just before she gives birth, or a new 'Mum' taking a break from the nest to get food and water while her young sleep.
Our observations show that nesting Mums often leave their young ones to rest elsewhere. That rest is often through the first and last part of the night but can also be in the day time. Routinely we expect to see hedgehogs come out in the evening around 9.30pm and go back to bed by 5am.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal. They tend to sleep soundly during the day and stay awake for most of the night. They are sensitive to light and prefer a dim, quiet environment.
As pets, hedgehogs can recognize and remember their owners' scent and voice, making them a loyal and affectionate companion. They can also quickly learn routines and habits, such as when it's time to eat or play.
Signs of stress
Many hedgehogs are busy and want to try to explore but a stressed hedgehog will be much more persistent and not easily distracted. The stressed hedgehog may also twitch or shake its head nervously. It is almost as if the hedgehog is saying “Sensory overload. I can't take it anymore.”
Hedgehogs typically hibernate from autumn to spring (October - March), but this can vary depending on the temperature and food available.
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 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.
🚨 If you see a hedgehog out in the sun, it could be a sign they're in trouble — often simply desperately thirsty in hot weather. ✅ The best thing you can do: 💦Put out a shallow bowl of fresh water — something they can easily reach and safely climb out of if they stumble in. (
Yes, hedgehogs often return to the same garden - especially if it provides a good food source, shelter, and safety.
However if you find a hedgehog staggering around, lying still (not in a nest), with flies around it or obviously sick or injured be it day or night, it needs urgent help. Sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs are very susceptible to hypothermia.
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.
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.
They reduce their body functions to a minimum. With the energy reserves they have piled up by eating, they can survive for up to half a year without food.
Avoid lettuce and celery, which are low in nutritional value. Do not feed avocados, as they are toxic to your hedgehog. Do not feed raw meats or raw eggs to your hedgehog. Hedgehogs are not able to digest milk.
Hedgehogs can be wonderful pets, and when they bond with you, the connection can feel truly wonderful. Unlike many small animals, hedgehogs can form meaningful bonds with their owners—but it's important to understand that this process takes time and patience. Hedgehogs are not domesticated animals.
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.
Baby hedgehogs, called Hoglets, are born in the UK in June and July. A second litter may be born in September or October. There are usually 4 or 5 hoglets in a litter. Newborn hoglets are blind and tiny, weighing just 25 grams.
You can leave food out for hedgehogs all year round. In spring, it helps them when emerging from hibernation and in autumn and winter, it helps them build up fat reserves to survive the colder months.
Possible Reasons They've Stopped Visiting: 1. Seasonal / Natural Movement Hedgehogs don't stay in one place all the time. Their ranges can shift as they find mates, nesting spots, or new food sources. Especially in spring and summer, they can cover large distances nightly.
If your hedgehog is unusually still in the evening—sleeping in short, restless bursts, waking and dozing repeatedly, or staying sluggish when they would normally explore—it can be a sign of unhappiness or even illness.
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.
This is what we call 'splooting'. Spreading themselves out to increase their surface area to cool down. This was on one of the recent very hot days. We use self cooling pads they can lie on. They claim to automatically cool down when an animal lies on it.