A garden has several spots any hedgehog will find incredibly enticing to nest in; however, there are times when they’ll need a helping hand. It’s up to you, then, to build them the best home possible for hibernation.
Firstly, when choosing where to build the home, pick somewhere quiet and away from direct sunlight. Next, ensure there will be substantial shelter from wind, as well as plenty of building space (under thick vegetation or behind a shed are great choices). And not to worry if you have pets because hedgehogs don’t seem to be too bothered by them when moving in.
Example 1
Example 2
Gather the following:
The best time to start cleaning a hedgehog’s home is around March/April or October. March or April is when the hedgehog leaves the home after many months of hibernation. October, on the other hand, is when the hoglets (baby hedgehogs) will have been weaned, meaning you can clean before the hibernation period. To clean effectively, simply remove the bedding and douse the inside with boiling water to kill any parasites
Please remember, however, that if you start cleaning and spot a hedgehog, to replace the lid and don’t disturb it – doing so could result in a female hedgehog completely abandoning her hoglets. Fortunately, you can check if a hedgehog is present by using a number of methods. One example is to leave a stick outside the home and see if it moves after some time has passed.
We hope this short guide has helped you in making your own hedgehog houses. If you would like to browse our tools and much more, please check out our extensive Garden Department.