Mealworms are even better than live crickets because you won’t need to worry about them jumping away, but they still move a lot and provide mental and physical stimulation for your pet.

Activities - The RSPB Wildlife Charity

They are nocturnal animals so pick up daylight hogs and take them to a vet or wildlife rescue for a check up even if you can’t see a problem. Southern African Hedgehog Southern African Hedgehog (Image Credit: Pius Mahimbi, Wikimedia Commons CC SA 2. So there you have a quick rundown on our native hedgehogs, but don’t stop here because there’s so much more to learn and your knowledge can help save the fast-decreasing population.Some people suggest that yogurt may not cause the same reaction as milk, but it’s probably best to avoid it altogether unless it’s something your hedgehog enjoys.

GUIDANCE FOR RELEASING HEDGEHOGS THAT HAVE BEEN REHABILITATED

If you cut the animal free entirely it is likely to die from infections that gather in the constriction injuries. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. If you’d like to do more to help, firstly, we recommend you have a look at the best hedgehog houses that we tested. Place it in a cat carrier or cardboard box with high sides, because they are masters of escape, and put it somewhere quiet and cool while you get professional advice.This is normal and they drop off before long BUT if your hog has lots, take it to a rescue centre as it may become anaemic and need help. This non-threatening, intelligent mammal is often the first point of contact people have with our native wildlife. A shallow, heavy bowl of fresh water is important too because hedgehogs tend to put their front feet on the rim which results in a drenching and all that precious water is wasted. This clay craft activity is great for improving toddlers’ and children’s motor skills and strengthening their fingers. Yes they do, because their food source dries up in winter, but they need to be at least 600g in late autumn to survive a winter of hibernation.

The Ultimate Guide to Looking After Hedgehogs - DIY Garden

Hedgehogs are not commonly kept as pets, and many new parents may not have a clear idea of what types of foods are best to feed them and what foods you should avoid. Pet hedgehogs should eat high-quality poultry-based meals that contain 25%-35% protein and 10%-15% fat. A tidy garden full of slug pellets means no food and well meaning gardeners who put out piles of mealworms, cakes, pastries and other bits don’t really help because the hogs fill up on fat, sugar and all things bad. All wildlife rescues are pleading with people to stop giving bread and milk and put out fresh water and cat biscuits instead. Since caterpillars are slow-moving, it’s usually fine to purchase the freeze-dried or canned versions and pass them out as treats on occasion.

Instead, check out my guide on what to feed hedgehogs for advice on the best hedgehog foods on the market. Especially as we had been recently talking about the animals that live in the natural habitats around where we live. Sometimes hedgehogs will bunk in with your outdoor pets or nest under decking too – so be careful when using a pressure washer! Of the 14 foods we have listed as safe to feed your hedgehog, most would agree the high-quality cat food is the best choice as it’s inexpensive, easy to find, and contains all of the necessary ingredients in the proper ratios. Compared to cat food, it’s more of a challenge to find a good brand because dog food tends to have less protein.