Hedgehog Awareness Week: How Pet Lovers Can Help These Iconic Garden Visitors
Each year, Hedgehog Awareness Week shines a spotlight on one of Britain’s most loved - but increasingly vulnerable - wild animals. Hedgehogs have long been a familiar sight in gardens across the United Kingdom, yet their numbers have declined significantly in recent decades due to habitat loss, urban development, and changes in how we manage outdoor spaces.
For pet owners, Hedgehog Awareness Week (3rd-9th May) is a great opportunity to not only learn more about hedgehogs, but also to make small changes that can have a meaningful impact. Even better, many of these changes can fit naturally into how you already care for your pets and your home.
Why Hedgehogs Need Our Help
Hedgehogs play an important role in the ecosystem. They’re natural pest controllers, feeding on insects like beetles, caterpillars, and slugs. But modern gardens - often tidy, fenced, and low on natural shelter - can make it difficult for them to find food, move freely, or stay safe.
One of the biggest challenges hedgehogs face today is simply getting from one garden to another. Solid fencing and walls can block their routes, cutting them off from vital resources.
At the same time, hazards like pesticides, strimmers, and even pet feeding habits can unintentionally put them at risk.
How Pet Owners Can Make a Difference
If you share your home with pets, you’re already thinking about animals’ needs every day. Supporting hedgehogs doesn’t require a complete garden overhaul - just a few thoughtful adjustments.
Make Your Garden Hedgehog-Friendly
Creating a safe, welcoming space for hedgehogs can be surprisingly simple. Leaving a small gap at the bottom of your fence allows them to pass through gardens more easily. These “hedgehog highways” are one of the most effective ways to support local populations.
You can also provide shelter by:
- Leaving a corner of your garden a little wild
- Adding log piles or leaf piles
- Placing a purpose-built hedgehog house in a quiet spot
These spaces give hedgehogs somewhere to rest, hide, and even hibernate.
Be Mindful With Pet Food
One of the most common ways hedgehogs end up in gardens is by being drawn to pet food left outside - especially cat or dog food.
While this might seem helpful, it can create unintended problems. Larger pets may scare or harm hedgehogs, and feeding routines can disrupt their natural foraging behaviour.
If you do leave food outside for your pets, it’s worth:
- Bringing bowls in overnight
- Feeding pets at set times rather than leaving food out
- Keeping an eye on who’s visiting your garden after dark
Brambles Crunchy Hedgehog Food 2kg £10.69 and Extra Select Premium Dry Hedgehog Dinner 5ltr £11.89
Check Before You Tidy
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and often hide in long grass, under shrubs, or in piles of garden debris during the day. Before using tools like lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, or strimmers, it’s always worth doing a quick check.
A simple habit like this can prevent accidental harm - especially during spring and summer when hedgehogs are more active.
Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Slug pellets and pesticides can be extremely dangerous for hedgehogs, either directly or through the insects they eat. Switching to wildlife-friendly alternatives helps protect not just hedgehogs, but the broader ecosystem in your garden.
Living Alongside Pets and Wildlife
Many people worry that having pets means they can’t support wildlife - but in reality, the two can coexist with a bit of awareness.
Dogs, for example, are often curious about hedgehogs but usually keep their distance after an initial encounter. Cats may be more persistent, but simple steps like supervising outdoor time in the evening or providing safe hiding spaces for hedgehogs can make a big difference.
The goal isn’t to completely separate pets and wildlife, but to create an environment where both can exist safely.
A Small Effort That Makes a Big Impact
Hedgehog Awareness Week is 3rd-9th Mat and is a reminder that even small, everyday actions can help reverse the decline of a much-loved species. Whether it’s adjusting how you manage your garden, being more mindful with pet food, or simply learning what to look out for, it all adds up.
It’s also a chance to think more broadly about animal care - not just for the pets we share our homes with, but for the wildlife just beyond our doors.
Because sometimes, helping animals doesn’t mean doing more - it just means doing things a little differently.