Hedgehog | Luring the hedgehog to the garden with a hedgehog house
Hedgehogs are small, spiny mammals often found in gardens and parks, where they feed on insects, snails and worms. They are especially active during the night and are popular with garden and pond enthusiasts. Choose plenty of aquatic plants near the pond so the hedgehog can hide.
All about hedgehogs
- The usefulness of hedgehogs for the pond
- What can you feed a hedgehog?
- How do I get hedgehogs in the garden and at the pond?
- How do you make a hedgehog house?
- Can hedgehogs drown in the pond?
How do I get hedgehogs in the garden and at the pond?
If you want to attract hedgehogs to your garden and pond, you can take the following steps: Make the garden more wild by creating hiding places, place a hedgehog house in a sheltered spot, provide water and food, such as special hedgehog food, cat or dog food or small pieces of fruit. Avoid using pesticides and use natural methods to control pests. With patience and the right measures, you can contribute to a healthy ecosystem and eventually attract hedgehogs to your garden and type of pond.
How do you make a hedgehog house?
You can make a simple hedgehog house by choosing a suitable storage container of about 50 x 40 x 30 cm with a lid. Then cut an entrance of about 13 x 13 cm in the front of the bin, about 10 cm above the bottom. Cover the bottom of the bin with a layer of straw or dry grass, about 10 cm thick. Place the lid back on the container and place a few stones on top to hold it in place. Finally, place the hedgehog house in a sheltered corner of the garden pond, away from direct sunlight and wind. You can further dress up the hedgehog house by camouflaging it with leaves and twigs, or by adding a little extra straw or dry grass for extra insulation.
The usefulness of hedgehogs for the pond
Hedgehogs feed on insects and other small animals often found in and around ponds, including: snails, water beetles and frogs. This allows hedgehogs to be useful in controlling an insect infestation. To attract hedgehogs to the pond, it is important to provide plenty of tall marsh plants around the pond, as they see this as a hiding place.
Pond plants as shelter for the hedgehog
High and dense water plants are ideal for the hedgehog, as the animal can hide among them. If you want a hedgehog in your garden, choose to plant high water plants along the pond such as riparian plants and marsh plants. - Simon
Hardy riparian and marsh plants from our own nursery
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Can hedgehogs drown in the pond?
Yes, hedgehogs can drown in a pond if they fall in and are unable to get out. Hedgehogs are not natural swimmers and do not have flippers, so they may have difficulty staying afloat if they fall into the water. Therefore, it is important to make sure there is always an exit or a ramp for hedgehogs to exit the pond if they accidentally fall in. A natural pond is ideal then, do not choose a pond container, here hedgehogs and other animals will not get out, rather choose an excavated animal friendly pond. It is also a good idea to have a shallow part in the pond, so hedgehogs and other small pond animals can safely roam in it.
What can you feed a hedgehog?
Hedgehogs are insectivores and have a varied diet. They mainly eat insects such as beetles, worms and snails, as well as fruit. If you want to feed a hedgehog, you can buy special hedgehog food from a pet store or online. You can also give food suitable for cats or dogs, such as wet food or meat cut into small pieces. It is important not to give milk to hedgehogs because they are lactose intolerant. Also, make sure that the food you offer is fresh and clean and that fresh water is always available.
Frequently asked questions about hedgehogs
To help hedgehogs, you can collect small twigs, pieces of moss and other natural materials and place them in a sheltered corner in the garden. It is also advisable to buy or make a hedgehog house and place it in a sheltered corner, out of the wind. Make sure that no water can run into the hedgehog house.
Hedgehogs generally dislike bright lights and loud noises, so it is best to let them rest in a quiet and dark environment. In addition, they do not like strong odors such as those from some cleaning products, so these should be avoided when cleaning their abode.
Simon van der Velde
Pond specialist and aquatic plant grower since 1986
Simon's vision is to let nature do its work in your pond. No need to buy all kinds of measuring equipment and water improvers. If the fish are swimming nicely and the plants are growing well, then the water in the pond is of good quality. With a good planting plan and the right approach, you can save a lot of money and maintenance, and ensure a clear, biologically balanced pond that becomes more beautiful every year.
