Helping Hedgehogs in Cornwall: A Guide to Protecting Our Spiky Friends

Discover how you can play a vital role in safeguarding Cornwall’s hedgehogs, our charming but vulnerable garden visitors, with this essential guide from Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue.

As the spring air warms Cornwall, the local hedgehog population, currently classified as vulnerable to extinction, emerges from hibernation. In light of their precarious status, Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue has released a comprehensive guide on how residents can contribute to the conservation of these beloved creatures. Here’s how you can help:

• Create a hog hole or hedgehog highway so they can access your garden
• Put out a shallow dish of water
• Check the area carefully for hedgehogs before carrying out any garden works such as strimming
• Create a shelter or nest box – they are used year round, not just for hibernation
• Check the garden after dark before letting dogs out if you regularly see hedgehogs, or take the dog out on a lead
• Take care when driving after dark, hedgehogs will often walk along quiet roads and verges
• Let areas grow wild along garden boarders and look at plants that attract insects and bug life
• Move bonfires on the day of lighting to ensure no hedgehogs are nesting within it
• Make ponds safe by adding a ramp or easy exit for hedgehogs, they are good swimmers but need a gradual slope to exit
• Support your local rescue, donate, share and engage with their social media or volunteer

Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue encourages everyone to share this information to raise awareness about the plight of hedgehogs. Together, we can make a difference in safeguarding these essential parts of our ecosystem for future generations.