24/07/2026
PLEASE HELP OUR HEDGEHOGS OUT IN THIS HOT WEATHER. 🦔
Hot weather severely affects hedgehogs by causing extreme dehydration, food shortages, and dangerous daytime exhaustion.
During dry spells, the ground hardens so earthworms and beetles burrow deeper, natural water pools dry up, and nursing mothers often abandon their young.Impacts of HeatDehydration
: Lack of open water sources leads to rapid and fatal fluid loss.
Food Scarcity: Hard, baked soil prevents them from digging up natural prey like worms and grubs
Daytime Roaming: Overheating nests force nocturnal hedgehogs out during the dangerous heat of the day.
Flystrike Risk: Weakened or daytime-exposed hedgehogs attract flies that lay eggs, causing fatal maggot infestationsHow to HelpProvide Water: Leave a shallow, heavy bowl (like a plant pot saucer) of fresh, clean water in a shaded spot. Add a few pebbles so insects can drink safely.
Offer Food: Supplement with crushed cat/kitten biscuits or dedicated meaty hedgehog food rather than wet meat, which attracts flies too quickly.
Create Shade: Leave quiet, undisturbed piles of leaves, logs, or overgrown patches of grass to offer cool daytime shelter.
Check Spaces: Carefully inspect compost heaps or long grass before using strimmers or garden tools
If you suspect a hedgehog is in trouble, contact your local British Hedgehog Preservation Society rescue network or wild life centre.
