All The Signs Your Garden Has A Hedgehog (And What To Do Next)

Some experts advise against cutting hedges between March and September, as that’s when birds are busy building their nests and raising their chicks. 

But Andy Simms from MyBuilder.com, which is running a Help the Hedgehogs campaign, pointed out that we need to look out for other little critters too. 

“The winter season is well and truly over, so, understandably, millions of Brits will be starting to think of garden tasks they can complete now ahead of summer. But it’s not just us that might be outside, hedgehogs may be, too, and they’re not always easy to spot,” he said. 

How can I tell if I have hedgehogs in my garden?

“There are signs to watch out for, such as small, black droppings, tiny hand-like footprints in mud, and loud grunting noises, particularly at night. If you notice any of these, you may have one of these small creatures in your garden,” Simms shared. 

Hedgehog poop is typically 1-1.5cm long and often has shiny insect remains in it.

Hedgehog Street has a postcode tool that can tell you if people have reported hedgehogs near you, too (hedgehogs can travel further than you think at night). 

You should always check these signs before beginning any gardening task, be it mowing, pruning, or planting, Simms added. 

And don’t forget to look in any garden drains from time to time, as hedgehogs can fall in these and get stuck.

Hedgehogs are seriously struggling in the UK

Sadly, these measures are necessary as hedgehog numbers have fallen by 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural ones since 2000.

“If you would like to help protect hedgehogs, there are jobs you can do, such as leaving some areas in your garden wild... or even building a hedgehog home,” Simms said.

Collecting nesting materials like logs and leaves, providing clean drinking water, and avoiding the use of slug pellets can all help, DEFRA shared on the government’s site.