Hedgehog Hibernation

The clocks have gone back, the nights are drawing in and the first frosts are already occurring, so it really feels like winter is on its way. What does this mean for our hedgehogs and other woodland wildlife?

Hedgehog hibernation

Often when we think of hibernation, we imagine animals curling up in a dark, quiet, cosy spot and sleeping peacefully for a few months until spring returns. Though they seem to disappear, that’s not really the case. Hibernating animals enter a state of inactivity, slowing their heart rate and breathing and lowering their body temperature and metabolism. A hedgehog’s heart rate is usually around 190 beats per minute but drops to just 20 during hibernation.

All this means that they can survive for long periods without eating, but they do need to get up occasionally to look for food and go to the toilet. Their clever bodies can also wake them up automatically if it becomes so cold that they are in danger of freezing.

Where and when do hedgehogs hibernate?

To prepare for their hibernation, hedgehogs eat as much as they can during autumn, munching on beetles, caterpillars and earthworms to build up good fat reserves. To survive winter, they need to weigh 500-700 grams. They will then seek out a quiet spot to rest for the coming months, usually in piles of dead leaves, stacks of logs, compost heaps or under garden sheds. The exact time they retire to this spot will depend on how mild the weather is; hibernation can take place any time from October to April, but in a warmer winter you may still see hedgehogs out and about in December.

You can help hedgehogs get through hibernation by putting food in an accessible place and providing a safe shelter for them.

Help our hedgehogs

Hedgehogs can be found in woodland edge habitats, hedgerows, farmland, parks and gardens, but numbers have dropped dramatically in recent years. They are less common in gardens now as lots of perimeter fencing and tidier outdoor spaces mean they can’t move around so easily, but you can help them get through hibernation by putting food in an accessible place and providing a safe shelter for them.

What should I feed hedgehogs?

They will appreciate any special hedgehog food, meat flavoured cat biscuits or chopped unsalted nuts and a shallow dish of water. Wet food isn’t a good idea as it could freeze and bread and milk is bad for them.

Find further information about feeding and caring for hedgehogs, as well as a link to get your own Happy Hedgehogs Pack from Kent Wildlife Trust.

Visit kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/help-a-hedgehog