Protecting hedgehogs in the garden

In short: Hedgehogs are protected and useful: they eat slugs, beetles and insects. A hedgehog-friendly garden offers shelter, water and access.

In more detail: Hedgehog numbers in Germany are declining. Dangers include robotic mowers, road traffic, poison and lack of retreats.

In detail

• Access: Holes of about 10 x 10 cm in the fence so hedgehogs can roam.
• Shelter: Leaf and brushwood piles, wild corners, deadwood. Do not remove all leaves in autumn.
• Robotic mower: Do not run at night; hedgehogs curl up and get injured.
• No poisons: No slug pellets or insecticides.
• Water: A shallow bowl, no milk.
• Help if found: Hedgehogs wandering by day, sick or very small in autumn need help. Contact a rescue centre or vet.
• Hibernation: From about November to March; do not disturb (biodiversitaet-und-artenvielfalt, rasen-pflegen).