🦔 Wild Hedgehogs – When to Help and When to Leave Them Be
🦔Here’s our seasonal guide to understanding hedgehogs and what to do if you see one
At Little Souls Rescue and Sanctuary, we often receive messages about wild hedgehogs spotted in gardens, roadsides, or during the day. Hedgehogs are wonderful creatures that play an important role in our local ecosystem, and knowing when to step in — and when to let them be — is vital for their survival.
Here’s our seasonal guide
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🌸 Spring (March–May)
Hedgehogs wake up from hibernation and begin searching for food and mates.
They may look thin and slow at first, especially if they've had a tough winter.
When to Help:
If a hedgehog is very small, weak, wobbly, or out during the day.
If it's injured, tangled in netting, or appears stuck.
If it’s out in cold or wet weather, especially early spring when food is still scarce.
Leave alone if:
It’s large, active, and seen at night — this is perfectly normal behaviour
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☀️ Summer (June–August)
Hedgehogs are most active — raising babies, feeding, and preparing for the colder months.
- You may spot juvenile hedgehogs starting to leave the nest.
When to Help:
- If you see a hoglet alone and out during the day especially under 300g.
- If you find a nest that’s been disturbed or babies crying loudly.
- Injured or fly-covered hedgehogs need urgent help.
Leave alone if:
- It’s active, healthy-looking, and foraging at night.
🍂 Autumn (September–November)
Young hedgehogs born late in the year need to reach at least 600g to survive hibernation.
- Many need extra support to gain enough weight before winter.
When to Help:
- If you find a hedgehog under 600g from late October onwards , even if it's healthy.
- If it’s out during the day or seems lethargic.
- If it appears to be nesting somewhere unsafe (e.g. compost bins, sheds).
Leave alone if they :
- It’s healthy, large enough, and preparing a nest for hibernation.
❄️ Winter (December–February
Hedgehogs usually hibernate. Any hedgehog seen out and about in winter is cause for concern.
When to Help:
If you see a hedgehog out in the cold, snow, or frost, especially during the day.
If it’s clearly underweight, shivering, or sluggish.
Leave alone if:
It's hibernating safely in a sheltered area and not disturbed.
General Signs a Hedgehog Needs Help:
Seen out in daylight (especially if wobbling or slow).
Underweight (smaller than a can of beans).
Covered in flies, ticks, or wounds.
Trapped in fencing, drains, netting, etc.
Crying sounds, especially from babies.
Limping or dragging a leg.
What You Can Do:
Always wear gloves when handling wild hedgehogs.
Place them in a high-sided box with a towel, a warm hot water bottle (well wrapped), and some cat food or kitten biscuits (no milk).
Keep them indoors and quiet while you seek advice.
If you are ever unsure, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Little Souls Rescue and Sanctuary — we’re here to help.
Together, we can protect these beautiful little souls and give them a better chance to thrive in the wild.
Helping Hedgehogs in Your Garden
A Full Guide: Ways to Help Hedgehogs in Your Garden by Little Souls Rescue & Sanctuary 🦔💚
Here at Little Souls Rescue & Sanctuary, we absolutely love hedgehogs. They are one of Britain’s most treasured little animals, but sadly, their numbers are falling every year. That is why it is so important for all of us to do our bit.
Here are some simple ways you can make your garden safer and more welcoming for these beautiful creatures.
Build Them a Little Home
Hedgehogs need somewhere dry and safe to hibernate and raise their babies. A simple hedgehog house tucked into a quiet, shady corner works perfectly. If you can, add a small tunnel entrance to keep them protected from predators, then cover the top with leaves, straw, or even a waterproof sheet to keep it cosy.
Put Out Some Food and Water
Hedgehogs eat insects naturally, but a bit of extra food can really help especially after they’ve just woken from hibernation. You don’t need anything fancy:
Wet cat or dog food chicken or turkey flavour is best
Dry kitten biscuits
And don’t forget a shallow bowl of fresh water.
Please avoid giving them bread, milk, or mealworms they might mean well, but they can make hedgehogs poorly.
Grow the Right Plants
Did you know the plants you choose can make a big difference? Native plants like honeysuckle, blackthorn, and dog rose attract insects that hedgehogs love to munch on. The more you plant for wildlife, the richer and healthier your whole garden becomes.
Leave a Little Wildness
What looks like a messy corner of leaves, logs, or twigs is actually the perfect home for a hedgehog. They’ll happily nest, hibernate, and hunt for insects in these spots. If you can, try to leave these areas alone it might look untidy to us, but it’s a five-star hotel for wildlife!
Be Careful with Bonfires
Hedgehogs can’t resist crawling into a pile of wood or leaves it looks safe and warm to them. Sadly, this can be deadly if the pile is set alight. To keep them safe:
Build and burn your bonfire on the same day, or
Move the pile to a new spot before lighting it, or
Always give it a careful check first.
Make Your Pond Safe
Hedgehogs love a drink from the pond, but if the edges are steep or slippery, they might fall in and not be able to climb back out. A simple ramp, a gently sloping edge, or even a log leading out of the water can save a life. Shallow areas are also great for them (and for frogs, birds, and insects too).
Did You Know?
Here are a few fascinating hedgehog facts that always surprise people:
Hedgehogs can have up to 7,000 spines on their back!
They are nocturnal and can walk up to 2 miles a night while foraging.
A hungry hedgehog can eat over 200 insects in one evening.
Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets born blind, with their tiny spines hidden under the skin at first.
Sadly, hedgehogs have declined by more than 50% in rural areas in the last 20 years.
Every little action makes a big difference. By making your garden hedgehog-friendly, you’re helping to protect these little souls and giving them a brighter future.
And remember, if you ever find a hedgehog in need of help, please get in touch with us at Little Souls Rescue & Sanctuary. We’re always here to give advice and point you in the right direction to find their the help they need .