What Do Hedgehogs Eat In Your Garden? Know It Here!

Written By James
Updated May 24, 2021 by James

What Do Hedgehogs Eat In Your Garden? Know It Here!

They say hedgehogs are the gardener’s friends, but what do they eat in your garden?

This question is harder to answer than you might think. While hedgehogs are omnivorous, meaning they will eat both plants and animals, they also have preferences.

After all, the hedgehog is a meat-eater. The answer to the question of what hedgehogs eat in your garden is that they like to eat snails, slugs, worms, and insects.

In your garden, they will also eat any fruits or vegetables that they can find. A hedgehog found in your garden will eat most insects, especially caterpillars, crickets, and beetles.

They will also eat the eggs and young of smaller birds and mammals, as well as birds' eggs and berries. They will take pet food and may eat sweet and starchy foods.

They are usually nocturnal animals, but may sometimes be found in daylight. 

How to tell if you have hedgehogs in your garden?

Hedgehogs are a type of insectivore mammal that make up the insectivore family. They are named for their spines, which are stiff hair follicles that protrude through their skin and protect them from predators.

The hedgehog is a small animal with a maximum length of about 17 cm (6.7 in) including the tail which can be, at most, 5 cm (2.0 in) long.

Their spines are usually black or brown, with white being rare, although it is more common in desert hedgehogs. The coloring of hedgehogs provides them with camouflage.

Their quills are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails and hair. In the past couple of years, hedgehogs have become a serious problem in the gardening community.

They have been responsible for the destruction of countless gardens, and have even claimed the lives of several gardeners. 

If you have noticed holes in your favorite sweaters, shed pet food, or disappearing fruit and vegetables, you might have hedgehogs in your garden.

While not necessarily harmful to your plants, having these animals around might not be as beneficial as you originally thought. If you notice hedgehogs in your garden, you may want to consider getting a protective hedgehog fence to keep them out.

Where to find a hedgehog in your garden?

If you look in your garden you might be lucky enough to spot a hedgehog. These prickly creatures are on the decline in the UK and are a protected species.

If you have a hedgehog in your garden, according to the RSPCA it's important that you make it a safe place for them to live.

During the summer months, you can find a hedgehog in your garden if you know where to look.

It's no secret that hedgehogs are often attracted to gardens as they contain a plethora of delicious insects to feast upon.

If you want to attract hedgehogs to your garden, there are a few things you can do to create a welcoming environment for them.

What to feed a hedgehog?

The long, pointy teeth of hedgehogs are perfect for snipping meat from the bones of small animals. However, with domestication and feeding from humans, hedgehogs can be fed a variety of other foods.

One of the most popular foods to feed hedgehogs is a mixture of cooked eggs and mealworms. However, worms can be high in protein and fat, which can cause a host of health problems and diseases.

Feeding a hedgehog a diet of mostly mealworms also means the hedgehog is not getting other nutrients it requires to stay healthy.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom told you that you shouldn't feed wild animals because they might bite you?

Well, they might, but there are a lot of other things you should be worried about, like whether or not what you are feeding them is healthy.

If you have a hedgehog as a pet, you should take extra care when thinking about what you feed your little spiny friend.

Unlike dogs and cats, hedgehogs are omnivores, which means they eat lots of different kinds of foods. They do, however, have some specific dietary requirements, and making sure you meet them can help keep your little friend happy and healthy.

Types of food good for hedgehog

We all like to spoil our pets and give them treats and snacks; however, some snacks are better than others. Think of the nutrition that your pet needs, as well as the treats that your pet loves.

You want to make sure that you are giving your hedgehog the right nutrition, as well as dental hygiene. There are some snacks that are great for your hedgehog, as well as others that should be avoided.

In the wild, hedgehogs eat insects, spiders, worms, and even small mammals such as mice.

In captivity, they can be fed a variety of foods, including dog and cat food, mealworms and waxworms, and even fruits and vegetables.

Foods that are bad for a hedgehog

Hedgehogs are cute but they are also a lot of work. One thing you will have to do is take care of their food. You can’t just feed them anything. You have to make sure they only eat food that is safe for them to eat.

Sadly, not all foods are safe for hedgehogs. As a hedgehog owner, you want your pet to enjoy a long, healthy life.

But, there are some common foods that are bad for a hedgehog, including onions, garlic, and grapes. While these foods won't kill a hedgehog, they can cause serious health problems, including anemia.

So, before you feed your hedgehog, check out this list of foods that are bad for a hedgehog.

How to keep hedgehogs away?

Many gardeners consider hedgehogs to be pests, simply because they eat their beloved petunias and other garden plants.

They can also be destructive when they get into the garden since they can chew or dig up plants. It's understandable why gardeners want to deal with these critters.

The best way to ensure that hedgehogs will not enter or remain in your garden is to make sure that the area is not attractive to them.

To do this, remove vegetation from beneath bird feeders and cover any compost pile with a net. Keep your garden tidy and remove any spilled birdseed that may be lying about.

If you have bird feeders, try to keep them in an area where hedgehogs are unlikely to come, such as under a tree away from the garden.

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James

My father, and his father before him, and his father; for the past 3 generations, my family have always been into gardening. The green fingers is a gift passed down to me and I thoroughly enjoy it! I also have worked in the manufacturing department for Bosch and DeWalt so I like to think I know a thing or two about tools and such!
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