People in East Cambridgeshire asked to help hibernating hedgehogs
They go into hibernation in the next month or so
Residents and businesses across East Cambridgeshire are being asked to help out with hibernating hedgehogs.
Numbers across the East of England are declining rapidly due to overdeveloped gardens and urbanisation.
Depending on the weather and their body condition, they go into hibernation from October/ November to March/ April.
In a public vote, hedgehogs have been chosen as the endangered animal residents would most like East Cambridgeshire District Council to support over the coming year.
As part of the campaign, the council is working with Hedgehog Street to raise awareness of what people can do to help hedgehogs safely through the winter months.
Provide access to your garden
Have a look around your garden and see if it can be accessed by a hedgehog.
They typically need a 13cm by 13cm hole, which can be cut into a fence to create access.
Access to food and water
Hedgehogs eat a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates including beetles, earthworms and caterpillars. The best way to support a hedgehog is to leave areas of your garden undisturbed. Alternatively, you can leave out cat or dog food or specialist hedgehog food. A shallow dish of water can also be provided.
Please do not give hedgehogs milk as they are lactose intolerant.
Create a hedgehog home
Log and leaf piles, wilderness areas, simple shelters and purpose-built hedgehog homes make great places for hedgehogs to nest and hibernate. Fallen leaves also make the perfect nesting material, so make sure you don’t clear all of these away.
Check bonfires before lighting
It’s coming up to Fireworks Night on November 5. Remember if you are planning a bonfire please check there are no hedgehogs nesting in it before setting fire to it. More advice about bonfires is available on our website.