Hedgehog

The hedgehog, a precious ally to protect in your garden

Shy and nocturnal, the hedgehog is one of the gardener’s best friends: in a single night it devours the slugs, snails and insects that damage your crops. Sadly, its populations are declining for lack of shelter and food. By offering it a cosy lodge and suitable food, you help it through the harder seasons. AnimalParadise gathers everything you need to welcome and protect this little mammal all year round.

How do you set up a hedgehog shelter in your garden?

Place a hedgehog house in a quiet, shady corner, under a hedge or against a wall, sheltered from wind and cats. Fill it with dead leaves and dry straw, with the entrance facing away from prevailing winds. This lodge serves as a daytime shelter, a place to hibernate and sometimes a nest: a real boost to keep a hedgehog living in your garden.

What should you feed a hedgehog and what must you avoid?

Offer specific hedgehog kibble or pâtés, or failing that protein-rich cat food, with a bowl of fresh water. Never give milk: hedgehogs are intolerant to it and it causes serious digestive problems. Avoid bread and leftovers too. Suitable food supports it especially in autumn and at the end of winter.

Our range for hedgehogs

• Hedgehog houses and lodges : sturdy wooden shelters with a cat-proof entrance to offer a safe refuge all year and encourage hibernation.
• Suitable kibble and pâtés : specific protein-rich foods formulated for the hedgehog’s needs, complementing its natural hunting.
• Feeding accessories : bowls and sheltered feeding stations to serve food and water away from other animals.

The AnimalParadise expert tip: never give milk to a hedgehog and always leave a dish of fresh water near its shelter. Set up the house before autumn so it adopts it ahead of hibernation.

To help this precious helper for the long term, AnimalParadise selects lodges and foods designed for its wellbeing. Order in a few clicks and enjoy fast delivery throughout Europe.