How do I know if I have hedgehogs in the garden?
There are lots of ways to find out if hedgehogs are visiting your garden.
- Pop your postcode into the BIG Hedgehog Map to see if people have spotted hedgehogs near you, you can filter sightings by year using the right-hand menu.
- Hedgehog poop is quite recognisable; keep an eye out for dark pellets the size of your little finger containing shiny insect remnants.
- Hedgehog footprints are unique so if you have any wet earth, sand or want to use a proper mammal surveying tunnel you can see if hogs are using your garden.
- If you have a hedgehog house, place some leaves/bedding near the house entrance – a hedgehog will likely drag this into the house for nesting, so look out for bedding that has been moved.
- Another trick is to place a stick over the house entrance and if this has moved it could be that a hedgehog is using it.
- Finally, the sure fire way of spotting hedgehogs is installing a wildlife camera in the garden. There are some great affordable ones here on NatureSpy Check out their tips and recommendations here.
Even if looks like there’s no hedgehogs in your garden, it’s vital to check areas thoroughly before gardening as there may still be hedgehogs nesting, or other wildlife like frogs or nesting birds.
