Animal loving staff at Woodlands animal charity are urging families to create hedgehog-friendly habitats in their gardens to help their prickly friends put on weight in the run-up to hibernation!
Sally McDerby from the Woodlands Sanctuary in Holmeswood says autumn is the most important time of the year for hedgehogs as they need to make the magic number of 750g in body mass to be able to survive the winter. And she warns that although extra foods such as mealworms can boost weight-gain, well-meaning hedgehog-lovers could actually put them in danger if they overdo offering them the treat!
She said:
“It’s widely known that hedgehog numbers are declining, but more people are becoming aware of this and are doing their bit to help.
As with most animals there is a lot of misunderstanding about the best food for them and this can cause more harm than good if we get it wrong.
“Mealworms are becoming an increasingly popular option for hog – and they certainly do them.
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