From the first frosts of autumn, hedgehogs are more vulnerable and will seek refuge for the winter in gardens.
To help them hibernate, you can build them a house.
How to build a hedgehog shelter, with what wood and what to put in it?
Our answers.
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Why build a hedgehog shelter?
For 5 months (from November to March), the hedgehog will hibernate, usually hidden under a pile of leaves in which it builds its nest.
The survival of these mammals will depend on the quality of their shelter, as well as the food they have managed to store before winter (snails, slugs, caterpillars, lizards, etc.).
Be aware that the hedgehog is an endangered species of wildlife.
Since April 1981, the European hedgehog has even been protected: it is forbidden to capture, kill or sell it.
Creating a shelter for it therefore allows it to be protected during its hibernation from natural predators (foxes, dogs, etc.).
Thus, it continues to play an essential role in biodiversity.
It is also the gardener's friend, because it is an insectivore: it protects the vegetable garden from harmful insects and parasites (white grubs, earthworms, earthworms, slugs, larvae, etc.) which devour it.
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What wood to use for a hedgehog shelter?
To create a natural shelter for the small nocturnal mammal, use old wood: tree trunks, logs, sticks, etc.
It is not uncommon for a hedgehog to hibernate in old trees.
A wooden crate or rough wooden planks will also work very well for nesting.
On the other hand, it is better not to use varnished or painted wood.
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How to build a hedgehog shelter?
The recommended size of a hedgehog hut is 30 to 40 cm high, 60 cm wide and 40 cm deep.
Commercial hedgehog houses are often a little too narrow.
The ideal is to set up a small entrance hall in their habitats, and to furnish the rest with dry grass or leaves to guarantee them perfect comfort during the cold period.
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Create a shelter for hedgehogs, when you're not a handyman
To make a hedgehog house for the winter, you can:
Use a wooden crate (wine crate type) upside down and in which you have created a 15x15 centimeter opening.
Install a plank against a wall by wedging it with stones.
Create a safe hiding place under your pile of wood stored outside, by placing a plank over the logs to create a cavity about 45cm long.
You can also reuse items you have at home (pallets, bricks, planks, concrete blocks, etc.)
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6 tips for creating a good hedgehog shelter
To create a cozy haven for hedgehogs in your garden, here's what you can do:
Choose a location sheltered from the wind (against hedges or a wall, under a staircase, under a pile of wood, etc.) and from the rain.
Put him in a quiet place where he won't wake up, draining his energy.
Put inside dead leaves, dried grass, bark, moss, mulch (mulch or straw) so that the hedgehog can hide underneath.
Think of the sealing of the refuge, by putting on the roof of the foliage, the logs to ensure the resistance of the shelter and by adding a tarpaulin or a piece of oilcloth.
Have water near the shelter (in a small feeder for example) and possibly leave a few pieces of apples or kibble for cats or dogs (above all, do not feed them bread or milk).
Make sure the shelter is ventilated.