Hedgehog Facts - Feeding

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Putting Out Food For Garden Hedgehogs

There is not doubt that hedgehogs will readily visit a bowl of food that is put out every night for them. At first they will come to it only late at night, when all the house lights are off, but gradually they will become bolder. It can be very rewarding to feed hedgehogs.

But what to feed them?

You can buy commercial tins of hedgehog food, (the popular one in the UK is called 'Spikes Dinner'). This is a very good way, as you can be certain the hedgehogs will like it and that it is safe. You can by either a 'wet' meaty version in a tin, or a dry mix. Bread and milk is a popular one, but some tests suggest that milk can give hedgehogs 'upset tummies'. It would seem that the best food for hedgehogs is Spikes Dinner. Always ensure you put out a shallow dish of water out if you are feeding hedgehogs.

The Hedgehogs Diet

Damp grassland is the hedgehog's favourite hunting ground. The hedgehog eats insects, including:

Beetles
Caterpillars
Earthworms
Birds Eggs
Small Mammals
Slugs
Snails
Millipedes
Earwigs
Bees
Birds