How to tell if your ‘hogging efforts have been successful

There’s a hedgehog at the bottom of your garden; you can tell by the shape of his poo.

Witnessing wildlife in your very own garden is a rewarding and humbling experience. The parallels between your own lifestyle and the wild animal can create a sense of connection between yourself and nature, making for a thought- provoking encounter. Unfortunately, due to the challenges thrust upon them, some animals are becoming extremely more difficult to attract.

The British hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has become quite the icon for British wildlife. Featured in many children storybooks and films, their distinctive prickly exterior makes them equal parts unmistakeable and endearing. You can find them across most of Europe, excluding Scotland. In their natural habitat, they dine upon the least favourable members of British Wildlife, including slugs and snails, perhaps reinforcing our fondness of them. The IUCN have described them as “Least Concern”. Out of the seven criteria leading to extinction, this is the first.

“WHAT A RELIEF,” YOU MAY SAY.

Hedgehogs have become one of the most popular members of British Wildlife
Photo by Tadeusz Lakota on Unsplash

 Despite this, citizen science (data collected by non-scientists) show that their numbers are declining, and wild hedgehog sightings are becoming less common.

Parasites and predation are two natural threats to hedgehogs today.  However, human activities create a new challenge for hedgehog populations. Buildings are a barrier to resources; roads counteract this, but they often lead to collisions. Farming has led to habitat loss – the human population is growing, and the rate of food production reflects this. On top of this, discrete pesticides (what we use to rid our garden plants of insects that eat them) and other garden chemicals are toxic to hedgehogs.

Roads can pose a huge threat to hedgehogs. Photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash

The little critters may be of “Least Concern” but for how long?

“What can I do?” You’re probably asking.

If you live in a busy town or city area, efforts to successfully attract hedgehogs may be slightly in vain. If you live in a vast countryside area, the odds are more in your favour.

One of the easiest ways to help hedgehogs is by offering a suitable habitat. If you haven’t already, take a look at some hedgehog homes for wild hedgehogs which offer a safe place for hedgehogs to rest and feed.

“How can I make my nesting box more attractive to hedgehogs?”

Although the nesting boxes are aesthetically pleasing and economically gracious, the ‘hogs may need more persuading. Give them a gentle nudge by ensuring your ‘hog hotel’ has all the necessities to enable your spiky visitors to thrive.

Temperature. Keep it out of direct sunlight, especially if you lack a water source in your garden. Dehydration can be lethal for anyone, and hedgehogs are no exception.

Protection. Badgers, another favourable creature among British wildlife enthusiasts, are a threat to hedgehogs. Instead of retaliation after attacks (which can negatively impact Britain’s natural balance of Flora and Fauna) offer a nesting box with coverage from shrubs and bushes. Prevention is better than cure.

Offer the local visitors some hog friendly food.
Photo by Sergey Norkov on Unsplash

Distance. If you want to turn your ‘hog hotel into a B&B, then provide suitable food and water. However, try to keep it away from the nest, as it can create an opportunity for competition and predators.

“I’m doing everything I can, but I still haven’t seen a hedgehog.”

Don’t despair, hedgehogs are nocturnal.  Seeing a hedgehog during the day or during the winter is often a bad sign. Unless you’re willing to install specialised wildlife cameras, you may never see one.

But, if you have a hedgehog visit your garden hotel, they will probably leave a far-from-elegant sign. Faeces.

You can tell what poo belongs to whom by its appearance and contents. Hedgehog faeces are dark and long in appearance, resembling their main diet stable: slugs. When broken apart (not using your hands) you may see traces of insects, like their exoskeleton and other undigested parts, a little bit like how we can’t digest sweetcorn.

“Is the poo dangerous?”

The delight you experience at the sight of hedgehog poo is controversial to what you were taught at school. Poo can be dangerous, after all.

Zoonotic diseases are diseases which can be transferred between humans and animals. Famous examples include Malaria and Rabies. Sharing space with a wild animal (including their food and poo) will always pose a small risk.

Hedgehogs carry lice, with reports of people being bitten. Hedgehogs are vulnerable to bouts of diarrhoea, which is caused by a bacteria which lives in their digestive system and intestine. Ringworm, a fungus which causes missing spines and poor skin condition in hogs, can also be passed to humans. Kennel cough can be spread between hedgehog and your pets, too.

Although hedgehog poo resembles an endearing and well- loved creature, the faeces themselves can be unattractive and post a slight risk. If you are concerned about the poo, follow your initiative and clean it, ensuring you are engaging in proper health and safety procedures.

To reduce any risk, wash hands before and after handling hedgehog poo. Be careful to keep those with less advanced immune systems away from any contaminants, including children, the elderly, and those that are sick. Keep pets away from the nests, and ensure their vaccines are up to date.

“SHALL I CLEAN IT UP?”

Don’t forget to wash your hands after clearing out your hog home and food supplies. Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Hedgehog poo can have its benefits.

If you want to spend your weekends getting up close and personal with some poop, it can act as a good indicator of hedgehog health. Bloody poo indicates an emergency. If this is paired with a seemingly lethargic hedgehog, seek advice from a wildlife veterinarian. Green poo indicates a stressed hedgehog – the stress can either be external (like a close call with a neighbourhood cat) or internal (parasites).

Although hedgehog faeces have a strong odour, ‘hogs do not intentionally scent mark. However, droppings can act as an indicator of good resources for passing hedgehog, meaning you can attract many more hedgehogs in the area.  If the hedgehog population increases dramatically, purchase another habitat to reduce aggressive encounters and competition for resources.

“I’m ready to help some hedgehogs!”

Hedgehogs are a British wildlife icon – contributing to the ecosystem and keeping pests at bay. Why wait until they are “Threatened” or “Declining” to act? Hopefully this article has empowered you to help your local hedgehog population, and how to stay safe around the evidence.

With great ‘hogs come great responsibility, and a rather messy garden!