Summer FAQ
8th June 2026
We receive thousands of your hedgehoggy enquiries a year. Your questions range from queries about individual hedgehogs in the garden, through to our national-scale conservation efforts. This time of year is especially busy as hedgehogs roam far and wide on their nightly search for mates, insect prey and nest sites. We’ve rounded up some of the most common questions we’ve been receiving…
*Please remember that all situations are different so do seek advice if you’re unsure how to proceed.
Help – I’ve uncovered a nest!
If you accidentally disturb a nest while out in the garden, carefully cover it back over and watch from a safe distance. Females may abandon the nest or even kill their young in the early days if they feel threatened so watch for mum coming back, and hoglets emerging making squeaking noises. If hoglets do emerge, or a hedgehog was injured in the process, contact BHPS urgently on 01584 890 801 for advice and numbers of local independent hedgehog carers.
I’ve seen a hedgehog out in the day – is it ok?
As a nocturnal animal, being out in the day can signal a problem. If the hedgehog appears to be sunbathing, has flies around it, is injured, lethargic or wobbly, follow first aid advice HERE and contact BHPS on 01584 890 801. BUT there are some exceptions at this time of year; with such short nights, females may emerge during daylight hours to forage and collect nesting materials. Taking her into care may be separating her from dependent young. Watch the hedgehog from a safe distance and if it’s moving purposefully, or carrying nesting materials and appears well, leave it. If you’re unsure, contact BHPS for advice.
If you’ve spotted a hoglet out in the day, check out our full guidance HERE.
How do I stop rats eating the food for hedgehogs?
A small saucer over the food bowl will be knocked off by hedgehogs, but not rats, so give that a go. Rats prefer dry food so adding some water to the hedgehog food might help deter them. Another tip is that rats are neophobic (they fear change), so moving the feeding station round the garden and putting the food out at different times should help (and also helps reduce aggression between hedgehogs). If the hedgehogs visit at the same time each evening, you could leave the food out for a couple of hours, rather than all night.
How can I help hedgehogs during a heatwave?
The best way to help hedgehogs during periods of intense heat is by ensuring there are multiple shallow dishes of clean, fresh water around the garden. This simple action will benefit not only hedgehogs but other garden wildlife too. Keep dishes topped up, and make sure to clean them daily to prevent the spread of disease.
A safe wildlife pond is a great way to ensure there’s a constant water source for hedgehogs. Find out more on this page.
When should I clean my hedgehog house?
April or October are the best times to clean a hedgehog house out if necessary, to avoid the peaks of the breeding and hibernation seasons. But even then, make sure there is no resident in there first by placing a twig or flower across the entrance to see if it gets knocked out of the way. If there is a hedgehog using the house, don’t clean it. More info HERE on cleaning hog houses.
Where can I report a hedgehog sighting?
Let us know on the BIG Hedgehog Map! All records help us understand hedgehog distribution across Britain. There’s no need to log multiple hedgehogs or nightly visits, just log every couple of months so we know they’re coming back.
If you’re spotting them regularly, you could get involved in wildlife surveys like Hogs on Film or PTES’ Living with Mammals.
Have a look at our full Hedgehog FAQ
