Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October/November through to March/April. Research has shown that each individual is likely to move nesting sites at least once during this period and so can sometimes be seen out and about. During mild winters hedgehogs can remain active well into November and December.
Summer is the time of year when you are most likely to actually see hedgehogs in your garden. Though they are nocturnal creatures, nights are so short in the summer months and hedgehogs have so much to do, that it's not unusual to spot a healthy hedgehog out and about in the daylight.
Typically, hedgehogs hibernate from late December / early January until late March time. However, this is very dependent on the weather and the individual hedgehog, as some will hibernate earlier or later and some not at all!
Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity in their second year of life, and after this can breed every year until death. They reproduce between April and September, but the period of greatest activity, 'the rut', occurs in May and June in Britain.
Although some larger male hedgehogs start to hibernate as early as September if the weather is cooler, many females have second litters around this time.
The answer is YES… as long as it's being eaten. It's difficult to tell exactly when hedgehogs will begin hibernation, so when you start to see that food is not being taken, you can stop putting so much out and perhaps just offer a few dry cat biscuits that don't go off so quickly.
Autumn juvenile hedgehogs are ones that are old enough to be away from their mothers but too small to hibernate. The autumn juvenile season can start as early as September and is busy through until the end of November. However, some will struggle on and the occasional one can be found from December through until April.
Usually, hedgehogs hibernate for a period of around four months, from November to mid-March. However, this is dependent on the weather and in mild winters hedgehogs may remain active well into December.
Ten or more different individuals may visit a garden over several nights, which could mean that 'your hedgehog' is in fact probably a number of different individuals visiting at different times.
But, don't worry, if hedgehogs are in the area, and your garden is hedgehog-friendly then they will soon return. It is also possible that you are being visited by several different hedgehogs each night, rather than always the same individual.
Busy roads cause mortalities and they can also disrupt dispersal routes for hedgehogs. New developments usually lack any connectivity between gardens. Hibernation habitat, typically scrubby or brambly areas, are frequently lost through over management or development.
Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October/November through to March/April. Research has shown that each individual is likely to move nesting sites at least once during this period and so can sometimes be seen out and about. During mild winters hedgehogs can remain active well into November and December.
What can I feed hedgehogs? Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary. Specially made hedgehog food is also widely available.
For such little animals, hedgehogs can make one heck of a racket! And like the very worst noisy neighbours, they generally get started in the garden at night. When you are tucked up in bed, trying to get some sleep. Grunting and snuffling, like a pig = hedgehog out and about, looking for food.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. They also make sure to hide themselves away in their nest when they're resting, to avoid disturbance and predation. For these reasons, sleeping and resting aren't behaviours we're likely to see a lot in the garden!
Essential Oils: I have been advised that oils that are considered "hot" are toxic to hedgehogs. Oils that are considered hot: Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Hyssop, Lemongrass, Ocotea, Oregano, Peppermint, Thieves, and Thyme. These are often contained in blends.
Leave out foods like tinned dog or cat food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Supply good quality, meaty hedgehog food from wildlife food suppliers. Never feed hedgehogs milk or bread - milk can cause diarrhoea and bread isn't very nutritious.
When do hedgehogs emerge from hibernation? From March, depending on the weather, hedgehogs will emerge from their hibernation. They will have been hibernating since November and during this time will have lost around a third of their body weight. So they will be hungry!
The most common reasons for hedgehogs visiting is that they are looking for either food or shelter, or both. During the summer months hedgehogs have to eat enough food so that they can build up adequate fat stores to survive their yearly hibernation period from November to March.
Food-deprived
If there's a skinny hedgehog found in your garden, then it might be that they've struggled to eat enough in order to help them hibernate. In that case, they're on the search for food and that often means going out in the daytime too. If this is the case, then you should weigh the hedgehog if you can.
You can still tell if they are thereby: Listening for piggy snuffling noises after dark. Looking out for hedgehog poo, about an inch long, shiny black and bullet-shaped. Looking out for hedgehog tracks.
Pregnant or nursing mothers may need to be out during the day. Otherwise, if you see hedgehogs in daytime they are probably injured or ill. PIck the hog up gently using gloves, place it in a box with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and take it to your local animal rescue centre. Hedgehogs are nocturnal.
After a little research on the internet, I found out that hedgehogs don't like the rain. They shelter from it. Discuss the reasons animals need shelter with the children. Look at the objective- to make a roof for an open shoe box and to see which roof can keep the most water from the 'hedgehog'.
Hedgehogs do not sunbathe, or like to take a stroll in the sunshine and so if you see a hog, who may appear healthy, lying in the sun or snuffling slowly around your garden, the team from Woodlands Animal Sanctuary urge you to take rapid action.