Help Our Chicksands Hedgehogs! Facts Hedgehogs are Britain’s only mammal that has spines. They have around 6000 of them, which can help to keep them safe from animals which may want to harm them. When they are in danger they curl into a ball. Hedgehogs hibernate in November. They eat lots of food before to get fat enough to last until March when they wake up. Did you know? There are less than one million British hedgehogs left in the wild What to do if you find a sick or injured hedgehog: Not every hedgehog will need rescuing, but please don't ignore those that need help. Avoid feeding a sick or injured hedgehog as they may be in shock. Please give them a shallow dish of water, then call for advice from the RSPCA, a vet or other wildlife rescue organisation

Help Our Chicksands Hedgehogs! In your garden Provide access If possible, the best thing to do is to use hedges for privacy rather than fences. Another option is to create a five inch hole under your fence so that hedgehogs can move freely around gardens. Leave wild areas in your garden Hedgehogs and other wildlife use fallen leaves, twigs and dead vegetation to build their nests. Wild areas also provide a home for the insects that hedgehogs and birds love to feed on. Or you could build your own hedgehog home, visit: http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/ Provide hedgehogs with food and water Most adult hedgehogs eat around half of their weight in food each day and drink lots overnight, so try to top this up as often as possible. Safe and enjoyable food for hedgehogs: Boiled eggs Chicken or turkey flavoured cat or dog food in jelly (never fish or beef based, either wet or dry) Cooked potatoes Crushed cat biscuits Dried mealworms or specialist hedgehog food Never give a hedgehog: Bread Milk (Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant) For more information contact the Chicksands Conservation Officer: Flt Lt Ross Horne - JITG-HQ-ConservationGp-Mailbox@mod.uk 01462 75 2712