The Autumn and Winter months are the most important months for hedgehogs to find sufficient food to put on enough weight before hibernation. So always make sure to put out food at this time of year. (Typically hedgehogs hibernate from late December/early January until late March).

Hedgehogs are active during the night so the best time to put out food is just after dusk when they are starting to search for food.

Meat-flavoured (ie: not fish) dog and cat food should be left out together with a handful of dog or cat biscuits and some mealworm.

Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant so milk can make them very ill and should never be offered. Instead put out a dish of fresh water each night.

Feeding hedgehogs should only be supplementary to their natural diet which is made up of a variety of bugs, grubs and slugs. It is therefore ideal to try and encourage more insect life in the garden by planting native plants and shrubs, creating a log pile, putting in a bug hotel and leaving an area of garden to be wild and overgrown.

St Tiggywinkles are open 24/7 to provide advice and help. Tel: 01844 292292.