As the beautiful days arrive, gardens come back to life. But did you know that certain gardening practices during this time can be dangerous for European hedgehogs? These little spiky balls are just emerging from hibernation, weak and vulnerable.
In spring, their survival directly depends on your daily actions in the garden. So, how can you help them?
Why hedgehogs risk their lives at the end of winter?
Having gone into hibernation with the first cold snaps in October or November, hedgehogs spend several long months hidden under natural shelters, such as piles of dead leaves or wood. During this time, without any food intake, their bodies slow down and draw solely on the fat reserves accumulated during autumn.
Upon waking in spring, these animals are particularly fragile: exhausted, underweight, and in urgent need of food. An excessive effort or premature disturbance of their habitat can quickly end their lives.
This period coincides precisely with the time you start your outdoor work in the garden. A few very common actions can unfortunately injure or even kill these small mammals:
- Turning over a compost pile or leaves carelessly, while a hedgehog may be hibernating inside.
- Using power tools like mowers or hedge trimmers without checking if they shelter or conceal an animal.
- Cleaning up wild areas of the garden too soon where hedgehogs have set up their winter shelter.
This simple action saves lives: postpone your spring gardening
Fortunately, a very simple gesture is enough to ensure the safety of hedgehogs at the end of hibernation: postpone cleaning natural shelters until mid-April.
Here’s how you can concretely protect these small residents:
- Wait to clear dense hedges and wild areas of the garden.
- Do not turn over compost piles or heaps of leaves before mid-April.
- Leave undisturbed the mulch and small shelters created naturally by the accumulation of vegetation during the autumn-winter period.
This way, the hedgehog will have the time it needs to regain its strength and leave its refuge on its own when the weather conditions become more favorable. A few weeks of patience can make a huge difference.
Encouraging hedgehogs to stay in your garden
Acting at springtime is great, but why not go further and provide these valuable allies with a welcoming habitat all year round?
Remember, hedgehogs are incredibly useful in the vegetable garden: they effectively regulate populations of slugs, snails, and numerous harmful insects for crops.
To encourage them to settle in your garden, here are two easy solutions:
- Build or install a hedgehog shelter: a wooden box with a small narrow entrance filled with dry leaves will do perfectly. Place it discreetly in a quiet, shaded area of the garden.
- Leave a small natural corner with some logs, a pile of stones, or an unmown patch. Such wild spaces ensure hedgehogs have the food and shelter they need.
Also, remember to leave a gap of about ten centimeters at the bottom of your fences or hedges. This passage will allow them to move freely and safely.
Common mistakes to avoid in the garden in spring
Your good intentions can unfortunately turn harmful without caution. Here’s what you should avoid during these sensitive weeks:
- Never start a fire with plant materials without checking that the pile doesn’t serve as a refuge for a hedgehog or any other small animal.
- Avoid using slug pellets or toxic chemical products: these substances contaminate insects ingested by hedgehogs and lead to poisoning.
- Systematically inspect the garden before starting any power tools. An injured hedgehog suffers tremendously and may take several days to succumb to its injuries.
These precautions only take a few minutes to check but can make a significant difference for these delicate animals during this time of year.
Have you ever seen hedgehogs in your garden at this time of year? What actions do you usually take to protect them? Feel free to share your ideas and experiences in the comments below! Your tips could inspire other gardeners to protect these charming little animals.
