Hedgehog protection campaign
Hedgehogs suffer from heat and drought
Summertime is hedgehog time. Unfortunately, this is increasingly noticeable at the moment as many hedgehogs are being run over while roaming around at night. At the height of summer, however, there are many other dangers lurking for this endangered animal. For this reason, the town of Beckum is drawing attention to the seasonal threats in the 4th instalment of the "Hedgehog Protection Campaign" in cooperation with the Private Hedgehog Aid Beckum.
Dangers in midsummer: lack of food and water
Hedgehogs are at greater risk in summer, especially in hot weather. The prolonged drought has a negative effect on the hedgehog's food supply. Moisture-loving insects disappear into deeper layers of soil and are therefore no longer accessible to hedgehogs. Food insects such as butterfly caterpillars, earwigs, woodlice and ground beetles are also retreating. The problem of food scarcity for hedgehogs, but also for other animals, is exacerbated by gravel gardens, as these do not provide a habitat for insects.
Female hedgehogs and their young are particularly affected. Many young hedgehogs are born in August and are then suckled by their mother for six weeks. However, if the mother does not find enough food, she does not produce enough milk to provide for her offspring.
Heat causes problems for hedgehogs
In addition to food, hedgehogs urgently need places to hide and places to drink water when temperatures are persistently hot in summer. As a nocturnal animal, hedgehogs normally sleep in a shady shelter during the day. Hedges, bushes, dry hollows under piles of wood and cool piles of brushwood are particularly popular. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer gardens offer suitable hiding places. Quite the opposite: asphalt and stones heat up very strongly in the sun and store the heat long into the night.
This helps hedgehogs in midsummer:
Gardens should therefore be designed as close to nature as possible. Wild flowers, hedges and shelters offer protection and food. In hot weather, hedgehogs enjoy a shallow bowl of water in the shade. Milk should be avoided at all costs, as hedgehogs cannot digest it. If you have observed a malnourished hedgehog in your own garden, you can temporarily provide it with a mixture of cat food and unseasoned scrambled eggs. The food dish and water bowl should be cleaned daily.
Further information on this topic can be found at www.nabu.de, for example.