Hedgehogs are useful and cute animals that like to seek shelter in gardens. With a well-placed and decorated hedgehog house you help these animals to a safe hiding place. In this blog you can read how to make a hedgehog house as attractive as possible, so that hedgehogs choose your garden as their home.
Why a hedgehog house?
Hedgehogs have fewer and fewer natural shelters due to the disappearance of hedges and bushes. A hedgehog house offers shelter from predators, rain and cold. A well-insulated hedgehog house is especially important in winter, because hedgehogs need a safe place to hibernate.
The perfect location for a hedgehog house
The right location for a hedgehog house is essential to attract hedgehogs. Here are some tips:
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Choose a quiet, sheltered spot in the garden, preferably under shrubs or among leaves.
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Provide plenty of shade; direct sunlight can make the house too hot.
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Place the house on a dry surface, for example on a layer of leaves or wood bark.
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Ensure there is a clear and safe access route without obstacles.
How do you set up a hedgehog house?
To attract a hedgehog, the hedgehog house must feel comfortable and safe. Here are some important points:
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Use natural materials such as dry grass, leaves or hay as nesting material.
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Provide a hedgehog house with a corridor or tunnel as an entrance, so that predators such as cats and foxes have difficulty getting inside.
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Choose a house made of wood or stone, as these materials provide good insulation and protection against the elements.
What does a hedgehog eat and how can you help?
Hedgehogs are true insect eaters, but in the fall they need extra energy to build up fat reserves for hibernation. You can help by:
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Offer hedgehog food , such as special hedgehog food, cat food (without fish) or unsalted and unroasted nuts.
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Provide a shallow dish of fresh water; milk is harmful to hedgehogs.
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Do not give bread or milk as this causes digestive problems.
How do you make your garden hedgehog-friendly?
A hedgehog-friendly garden offers sufficient shelters and food. You can do this by:
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To let a corner of the garden become overgrown with leaves and branches.
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No chemical pesticides should be used to ensure that sufficient insects remain available.
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Make holes in fences (at least 13 x 13 cm) so that hedgehogs can easily move from garden to garden.
When do hedgehogs come to the hedgehog house?
Hedgehogs look for a safe place to hibernate in the autumn. This means that the best time to place a hedgehog house is between September and November. In the spring and summer, hedgehogs can use the house as a resting place or maternity room.
Maintenance of a hedgehog house
To keep the hedgehog house in good condition, some maintenance is required:
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Only clean the hedgehog house in the summer (May-August), when you are sure that the house is uninhabited.
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Do not use cleaning agents, but rinse the house with hot water and let it dry thoroughly.
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Check that the house is still stable and that no moisture is absorbed.
Conclusion
A hedgehog house is a great way to help hedgehogs in your garden and enjoy these useful animals at the same time. By placing the house in the right place, furnishing it with natural materials and creating a hedgehog-friendly garden, you increase the chance that a hedgehog will choose your garden as its home.
Want to buy a hedgehog house? Check out our range of hedgehog houses and give hedgehogs a safe place in your garden.
