At PAWS, as well as helping you care for your domestic pet, we also want to help you look after the wildlife you might find in your back garden.
In Britain, we are extremely lucky to have so much wildlife around us and there are a number of ways we can help the animals that come into our gardens in their hunt for food. The type of garden you have will determine the type of wildlife it will attract. A garden with few plants, trees and grass will attract less wildlife than one with lots of hedges and flowering plants which provide food and shelter. Ponds will attract insects and amphibians, while compost heaps can be a great shelter for hedgehogs.
These prickly little creatures are nocturnal and can be found in gardens all over the country. A compost heap or pile of leaves makes a comfy hiding place for a hedgehog, especially between November and March when they hibernate, so be careful when clearing your garden during this period.
Diet
- Slugs
- Earthworms
- Beetles
We stock Spikes Hedgehog food which is recommended by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
How to attract hedgehogs into your garden
Some people like to leave out milk and bread for hedgehogs, but this can make them ill. Provide a saucer of water and hedgehog food, as this is much more digestible for them. Avoid feeding hedgehogs with dog or cat food as only a few, specific types are suitable food for hedgehogs.
