Where do hedgehogs live?
Hedgehogs are creatures of the woodland edge and can be found among hedgerows, fields and other countryside areas where there’s a mosaic of habitats including trees, open grassland and scrub. In urban and suburban areas they live in areas that mimic these countryside habitats, including cemeteries, gardens and parks. They seem particularly fond of thickets of bramble, open compost heaps and wood piles, and often nest beneath garden sheds.
Hedgehogs come into gardens via holes in fences, gaps beneath gates and other small entrances – they don’t need a big hole to travel through, around 13cm (the size of a CD) is enough. Hedgehogs in the garden are a good sign as it means your garden is open and accessible, and has the shelter and food they need. They travel up to 2km a night in search of food and a mate and will often return to the same garden – research has shown that hedgehogs spend more time in gardens where supplementary food is provided, and in those with open compost heaps. A male hedgehog may spend a week or so visiting the same garden and then move on to a different patch, while a female may raise young, so could spend several weeks in the same vicinity. Hedgehogs typically hibernate between the months of November and March so are less likely to be spotted during this time, however not all hedgehogs will hibernate so you may have the odd winter visitor.
Hedgehogs make snuffling noises, so if you leave your windows open at night in summer you may be able to hear them in your garden. Failing that, you’ll need to look
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