Hedgehog Friendly Campus!

 

Hedgehog Friendly Campus!

 

As we've been researching the Birmingham area, we discovered an unexpected envrionmental treat! Apparently, Birmingham is known for having wild hedgehogs roaming through the lands!

Sadly, we've also learned that while they used to be widespread, they have been dying off as a result of urbanization. That being said, the University of Birmingham is a hedgehog friendly campus, meaning they have set up habitations and feeding areas for these amazing little creatures. We've also learned that it's not uncomon to have a hedgehog find its way into your back yard! Needless to say, the kids are very excited about this, and we want to become what's known as Hedgehog Heroes! Here's a list of things that we plan to do when we find a home, to make it hedgehog friendly:

1.  Provide good food

Leaving food out for hedgehogs can help them during cold snaps and help them reach a healthy hibernation weight. A meaty dog or cat food (not fish flavoured), dry cat biscuits, unsalted peanuts and mealworms are firm favourites. Please don't give hedgehogs bread and milk - it's very bad for them as they are lactose intolerant. You can put food in a crate or box to prevent other critters from polishing it all off! 

2.  Garden Wild

Leaving patches of long grass will attract insects and other wildlife. Create a variety of habitats and keep your garden green. Paving and decking over gardens reduces ‘hog habitat. 

3.  Choose insect- attracting plants

Attracting insects - including bees, butterflies and other pollinators - does wonders for your garden. Not only will it help your plants to thrive but they will provide food for hedgehogs and a host of other birds and beasts! (maybe not this one, lol).

4.  Connect your garden 

Habitat loss is a major cause of hedgehog declines. As urban gardens are increasingly fenced in and cut off, hedgehogs are unable to move between them to find food and mates. A small hole 13cm x 13cm (the size of a CD) will connect your garden with others.

5.  Create nesting opportunities

Leave prunings and leaves in a wild corner for hedgehogs to use when makingnests. Hedgehogs love apple and cherry leaves, and hawthorn and honeysuckleprunings make good structural supports.  

These little guys hibernate in the winter and need to have enough food to last them through. They also keep the bug population down, which is great news to us parents! They are actually found on multiple continents including Europe and Asaia, and even exist in New Zealand. They can live in almost any climate, from deserts, forests, and gardens. They eat dog food and bugs, and enjoy making homes in leaf piles and brush when possible. 

While we don't plan on bringing a new hedgehog "pet" into our home, the opportunity to learn about these fascinating little guys in the wild is a fun addition to our journey. We have already learned that their quills can be dangerous like the porcupine, so we need ot be cautious about handling them, but we want to do our part to preserve one of God's creations that is slowly going extinct.