Hedgehogs are a common sight in UK gardens this autumn, and there’s one food item you can leave out to attract them to your outdoor space
Making shelters will make hedgehogs not just visit, but stay(Image: Getty)
As autumn draws near, you’ll begin to notice more hedgehogs emerging in and around your neighbourhood, and with a bit of luck and one simple tip – you could even provide them with a safe haven in your own garden.
Hedgehogs continue to play a vital role in the ecosystem and the proper garden setting can become a hedgehog sanctuary if it’s abundant with nutritious foods and sheltered areas for them to hibernate.
They are frequent garden visitors due to the diverse food sources, as they search for insects and worms, caterpillars, beetles and various other invertebrates.
However, if your outdoor area is lacking in insects, there is one surprising food item you can offer to keep them content this season.
Putting out food and fresh water in the garden during the evenings can entice hedgehogs to visit and come back regularly, but there’s one specific item that will especially appeal to the small creatures, as it already does with some of your pets.
There are a number of things that keep them clear of your garden(Image: Getty)
That’s correct, the very food your cats or dogs at home enjoy eating is also a firm favourite with wild hedgehogs, according to the RSPCA. By setting out some tinned meaty cat or dog food and crushed cat or dog biscuits, they’re likely to come scuttling along.
If the food is placed in shallow bowls so they can reach it easily, and make sure to refresh them daily, disposing of any food that remains uneaten. There are certain foods you must avoid offering hedgehogs completely, and that includes anything containing milk.
The creatures are lactose intolerant, and it can trigger diarrhoea, while bread poses a risk too, mainly because it offers no nutritional value for them.
Beyond food, creating a natural refuge for hedgehogs can encourage them to keep visiting your garden as it provides a snug habitat for them.
There is one food that draws them into your garden(Image: Getty)
Leaving piles of leaves, logs or compost to remain in the garden rather than clearing them away gives them a greater opportunity to construct their own little nest, though many wildlife enthusiasts prefer to go one step further.
Some people choose to buy a specially designed hedgehog house or construct one from wood, as well as establish ‘hedgehog highways’. This involves cutting holes in your fences to enable them to move from garden to garden, without any obstruction, while searching for food.
The RSPCA has identified a range of things that can present a danger to hedgehogs, and you may wish to steer clear if you want to encourage them in your garden.
One of the key things to watch out for at this time of year is carefully inspecting bonfires before setting them alight, as hedgehogs may be nesting or sheltering inside them. By relocating the entire bonfire you can permit any small creatures concealed in it to run away.