Experts share 5 simple steps you can do NOW to help keep hedgehogs healthy

As hedgehog populations continue to decline across the UK, Vale Wildlife Hospital is calling on the public to take five simple yet impactful steps to support the health and safety of these much-loved garden animals.

In recent years, hedgehog populations across the UK have been in sharp decline. According to the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), hedgehog numbers have dropped by over 50% in rural areas and up to 30% in urban environments over the past two decades.

As hedgehogs begin to appear more frequently in gardens and wild spaces after their hibernation, Vale Wildlife Hospital in Gloucestershire - behind the popular Vale's Hedgehog Food (https://www.valeshedgehogfood.com/) - is urging well-meaning members of the public to take easy steps to make an impactful difference for hedgehogs in their area:

1. Create 'Wild' Spaces in Your Garden
Hedgehogs thrive in slightly untamed environments. Allowing a section of your garden to grow wild - complete with uncut grass, leaf piles and dense shrubs - can provide essential shelter and foraging ground. These small changes not only benefit hedgehogs but also support broader biodiversity.

2. Create a hedgehog highway
Speaking of gardens, one of the biggest threats to hedgehogs is habitat fragmentation. Fences and walls can trap hedgehogs in small spaces and limit their access to food, mates, and shelter. By cutting a small hole (13cm x 13cm) at the base of your fence or gate, you create a "hedgehog highway" that allows them to roam freely between gardens.

3. Avoid Feeding Mealworms - Choose Balanced Hedgehog Food
While commonly used, mealworms are high in phosphorus and low in calcium, leading to potential health issues like Metabolic Bone Disease in hedgehogs. Wildlife experts recommend nutritionally balanced options like Vale's specially formulated Hedgehog Food, which delivers the essential proteins, fats and vitamins hedgehogs need year-round.

4. Don't Handle Healthy Hedgehogs
Handling wild hedgehogs may cause them stress, which is a leading cause of illness and death among wildlife. If a hedgehog appears injured or unwell, contact your local wildlife hospital for professional guidance rather than intervening directly.

5. Provide Clean, Fresh Water
Hydration is vital for hedgehogs, particularly during warm weather. Leaving a shallow bowl of clean water in your garden can support their wellbeing and help them stay active through the night.

(Bonus tip!) Keep Vale Hedgehog Food on Hand
Stocking up on Vale's Hedgehog Food (https://www.valeshedgehogfood.com/) ensures hedgehogs have a reliable source of nutrition, especially during colder months when natural food is scarce. Combined with access to water, it transforms your garden into a sanctuary for local wildlife.

"Supporting hedgehogs doesn't require a complete garden overhaul," says a spokesperson from Vale Wildlife Hospital. "Small, thoughtful actions can have a big impact - and everyone can play a part."

For more information or to purchase Vale Hedgehog Food, visit https://www.valeshedgehogfood.com/

Cecily Snowball
Marketing Manager
Bramling House, Bramling, Canterbury, Kent CT3 1NB
cecily.snowball@think.studio

Vale Wildlife Hospital is one of the UK's leading wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres, providing expert care for thousands of sick, injured and orphaned wild animals every year. As part of their continued dedication to wildlife welfare, they've developed Vale's Hedgehog Food - a specially formulated supplementary food designed to support the health and recovery of both wild and rehabilitated hedgehogs.

This release was published on openPR.