Going the whole hog for winter
MORE and more people are becoming aware of the declining hedgehog population and are doing their bit to help.
Woodlands Animal Sanctuary in Rufford says that, as with most animals, there is a lot of misunderstanding about the best food sfor them and this can actually cause more harm than good when people get it wrong.
Mealworms are becom- ing an increasingly popular option for hogs – and they certainly do love them.
But this does not mean that they are the most ideal food for them, or that they should make up the majority of the hog’s diet.
Mealworms are very high in phosphorus and this can unbalance the very fragile equilibrium of the body.
Too much phosphorus in the diet can in fact cause calcium to be leached from the bones and lead to metabolic bone disease.
This is when the bones become soft and bendy as well as developing deformities – this can make walking impossible, which in turn severely effects the hog’s chance of survival.
But a small amount of mealworms daily can be part of a nutritious and balanced diet for hedgehogs.
Woodlands Animal Sanctuary uses a specially blended mix of high quality meat-based cat kibble, with a very small amount of seeds, nuts and insects.
These sources of nutrients help hogs achieve sufficient weight for successful hibernation through the winter and breeding during summer.
If you would like to help support the hedgehogs in your area, you can buy the charity’s special blend of hog food, the proceeds of which go straight back to the charity to support the work they do.
The food can be purchased from the pet shop at the sanctuary.
Wet cat food, the type you get in the pouches or tins, can also be fed to hogs, (usually chicken flavour) but because of the high water content the volume they require to gain the same level of nutrients is much more.
Also, the high water content can cause havoc with their stools.
The other thing to remember about wet food it that is will go off very quickly during the warmer times of the year and can freeze easily when temperatures drop.
To ensure that you are in fact supporting and benefitting wild hedgehogs, make sure you feed them only reputable hog mixes, that use only quality ingredients.
Don’t forget, hedgehogs only hibernate for around 10 days at a time, and therefore still need a reliable food source throughout the winter.
If they are unable to find enough food when they wake up, and maintain their weight, it is unlikely they will have another successful 10 days hibernation.
Therefore, if you are kind enough to leave food out for our prickly friends, please ensure you continue to do so throughout the winter, as they do still need it.