Status: 13.10.2023, 16:51 PM
By: Joana Lück
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Hedgehogs need a fat reserve to survive the winter. If you want to help the cute mammals in their search, you should feed them animal foods.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals that aren't very picky about what they eat in the wild: insects and pretty much anything that crawls on the ground. If you want to help hedgehogs in the garden, you should offer them food that is particularly rich in protein. Offer the food mainly in late autumn or late winter, in case the animals should wake up early from hibernation. But feeding them all year round can also be useful, as there are fewer and fewer insects and food for the hedgehog.
This is what you can give hedgehogs as food
Hedgehogs should be fed cat food. © Sylvio Dittrich/Imago
- Cat or dog food: Dry food or wet food for cats or dogs is a good option for hedgehogs. It is best to choose food with 100 percent meat content. Give out the food in small amounts, ideally after dark.
- Water: Always provide a shallow bowl of fresh water. Hedgehogs need to drink, especially during dry periods.
- Boiled, unsalted eggs
- Mealworms and crickets: Live mealworms and crickets from pet stores can also serve as food, especially for baby hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs, on the other hand, do not tolerate nuts, apples or other plant foods. It is also important to note that hedgehogs are also not allowed to consume milk. The mammals are lactose intolerant and can get diarrhea from it.
You can find even more exciting gardening topics in the regular newsletter of our partner 24garten.de.
When feeding hedgehogs in your garden, keep in mind that this should only be a supplement to their natural diet. It is also important to be aware that hedgehogs are wild animals and should not be made into pets. Keep your distance and do not disturb them while eating. You should also make sure that your gardening activities do not pose a danger to the hedgehogs, for example by using toxic chemicals in the garden or if you overlook baby hedgehogs in the grass.
If you find injured or sick hedgehogs in your yard, you should contact local animal welfare organizations or veterinarians for appropriate help.
This article was created with the help of machine support and carefully reviewed by editor Joana Lück before publication.