Hedgehogs are adorable and shy animals which awakens our compassionate instinct. However, interfering more than necessary can be harmful.
In autumn, these creatures go on the hunt for food and slowly start to build their nests. You shouldn’t be surprised if you come across several hedgehogs during the autumn months. However, their numbers have declined by 50% since the year 2000. This is why it is crucial to help hedgehogs when necessary.
There are several signs you can spot to know whether a hedgehog is in need of help.
If you find a hedgehog that looks injured, emaciated or ill, you should act straight away. The same goes for baby hedgehogs that have been left behind. Watch the nest for a while - if the mother hedgehog doesn’t come back after two hours, you should bring the hoglets to safety as soon as possible. Hoglets that are found outside of the nest also need your help. If you find a hedgehog active in winter, it is a sign that it hasn’t started hibernating and it needs your help. You can make their lives a little easier by following these 10 tips: