In winter, hedgehogs rely on this British dish to survive until spring

Across Britain’s gardens and hedgerows, a small nocturnal mammal faces one of nature’s most demanding challenges each winter. Hedgehogs, once a common sight in rural and urban landscapes alike, now depend increasingly on human intervention to survive the harshest months of the year. As temperatures plummet and natural food sources vanish, these spiny creatures require substantial energy reserves to endure their months-long hibernation. Surprisingly, a simple British staple has become crucial to their survival: meat-based cat and dog food. This readily available dish provides the essential proteins and fats hedgehogs desperately need before retreating into their winter slumber, bridging the gap left by declining insect populations and habitat loss.

The importance of hibernation in hedgehogs

Understanding the hibernation process

Hibernation represents a critical survival mechanism for British hedgehogs, allowing them to conserve energy when environmental conditions become inhospitable. During this extended period of dormancy, hedgehogs enter a state of torpor characterised by significantly reduced metabolic activity. Their body temperature drops dramatically from approximately 35°C to match ambient temperatures, sometimes falling as low as 4°C. Heart rates slow from around 190 beats per minute to a mere 20 beats per minute, whilst breathing becomes almost imperceptible.

This physiological transformation enables hedgehogs to survive for months without eating, relying entirely on fat reserves accumulated during autumn. The energy conservation achieved through hibernation is remarkable, with metabolic rates dropping to just 2-5% of normal levels. However, this process is not without risks. Hedgehogs must achieve a minimum body weight of approximately 600 grams to survive hibernation successfully, though larger individuals weighing 700-800 grams have considerably better survival prospects.

The vulnerability of hibernating hedgehogs

The hibernation period exposes hedgehogs to numerous dangers that threaten their survival:

• Insufficient fat reserves leading to starvation before spring
• Disturbance from predators or human activity causing premature awakening
• Flooding or exposure to extreme cold in inadequate shelters
• Parasitic infestations that weaken already vulnerable individuals
• Unseasonably warm periods triggering energy-depleting awakenings

Each awakening from torpor consumes precious energy reserves, potentially leaving hedgehogs without sufficient resources to complete their hibernation. This vulnerability underscores why pre-hibernation feeding is absolutely essential for population survival, particularly given the species’ classification as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List throughout Great Britain.

Understanding these hibernation dynamics reveals why autumn feeding programmes have become increasingly vital for hedgehog conservation, particularly as natural food sources continue to diminish.

Why hedgehogs hibernate in winter

The scarcity of natural food sources

Hedgehogs are primarily insectivorous mammals, with their natural diet consisting predominantly of beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, and other invertebrates. As winter approaches, these food sources become increasingly scarce or entirely unavailable. Ground-dwelling invertebrates burrow deeper into soil or enter their own dormancy periods, whilst flying insects disappear completely. This dramatic reduction in prey availability makes active foraging energetically unsustainable during winter months.

Agricultural intensification and widespread pesticide use have compounded this natural seasonal scarcity. Studies indicate that invertebrate populations have declined substantially across British farmland, reducing food availability even during warmer months. The combination of seasonal and human-induced food scarcity leaves hedgehogs with no viable alternative to hibernation.

Temperature regulation and energy conservation

Night-time temperatures consistently falling below 5°C trigger the hibernation instinct in hedgehogs. At these temperatures, maintaining normal body temperature would require enormous energy expenditure, far exceeding what could be obtained from the minimal food available. Hibernation therefore represents an evolutionary adaptation perfected over millennia, enabling survival through periods when active existence becomes impossible.

These biological imperatives explain the timing and necessity of hibernation, but equally important is understanding precisely when this critical period commences.

When hedgehog hibernation begins

Typical hibernation timeline

The hibernation period for British hedgehogs typically commences between October and November, though exact timing varies considerably based on geographical location, individual condition, and prevailing weather patterns. In southern England, hibernation may begin later in November, whilst northern populations often retreat by early October. The process is gradual rather than sudden, with hedgehogs initially experiencing short periods of torpor interspersed with active nights.

Hibernation generally extends until March or early April, when rising temperatures and returning food sources make active foraging viable again. Males typically emerge slightly earlier than females, often appearing in late March, whilst females and juveniles may remain dormant until mid-April. The total hibernation period thus spans approximately five to six months, representing nearly half the hedgehog’s annual cycle.

Climate change impacts on hibernation patterns

Increasingly mild winters have disrupted traditional hibernation patterns, creating new challenges for hedgehog populations. Unseasonably warm periods in December or January can trigger premature awakening, causing hedgehogs to expend valuable energy reserves when food remains scarce. These interrupted hibernations are particularly problematic because:

• Each awakening depletes fat reserves without opportunity for replenishment
• Active hedgehogs face predation risks during periods when they should be safely dormant
• Energy expenditure during false springs may prove fatal when cold weather returns
• Disrupted hibernation affects breeding success the following spring

This climate-induced variability makes supplementary feeding throughout autumn and early winter increasingly important, providing hedgehogs with opportunities to restore depleted reserves during mild spells. The unpredictability of modern hibernation patterns necessitates understanding where hedgehogs seek shelter during these vulnerable months.

Where hedgehogs find refuge for hibernation

Natural hibernation sites

Hedgehogs demonstrate considerable resourcefulness in selecting hibernation sites, prioritising locations that offer protection from predators, insulation from cold, and shelter from moisture. Natural sites include dense undergrowth, beneath tree roots, within compost heaps, under garden sheds, and in purpose-built hedgehog houses. The ideal hibernaculum maintains relatively stable temperatures, remains dry throughout winter, and provides sufficient concealment from disturbance.

In rural environments, hedgehogs traditionally favoured hedgerows, woodland edges, and bramble thickets. However, habitat loss has dramatically reduced availability of these natural sites. Agricultural hedgerow removal has eliminated countless potential hibernation locations, whilst intensive land management leaves few undisturbed areas suitable for winter refuge.

The critical role of gardens

British gardens have become increasingly vital hibernation habitats as countryside refuges disappear. Urban and suburban gardens collectively cover substantial areas and, when managed sympathetically, provide excellent hibernation opportunities. Features that make gardens suitable include:

• Log piles and leaf heaps offering natural insulation
• Spaces beneath sheds, decking, or outbuildings
• Dense evergreen shrubs and ivy coverage
• Purpose-built hedgehog houses positioned in quiet corners
• Compost heaps generating warmth through decomposition

Research suggests that urban hedgehog populations have stabilised or even increased in some areas, contrasting sharply with continued rural declines. This pattern highlights the conservation significance of garden habitats, particularly for hibernation. However, gardens only fulfil this potential when hedgehogs can access them through connected networks of green spaces, emphasising the importance of gaps in fences and walls.

Whilst location matters enormously, equally important is how hedgehogs physiologically prepare themselves for the hibernation challenge ahead.

How hedgehogs prepare for winter

Autumn feeding behaviour

Preparation for hibernation dominates hedgehog behaviour throughout autumn, with intensive feeding becoming the primary activity. During September and October, hedgehogs may spend up to 90% of their active hours foraging, consuming substantially more food than during summer months. This hyperphagia allows them to accumulate the fat reserves essential for surviving five to six months without eating.

Natural autumn diet consists predominantly of earthworms, which become particularly abundant during wet autumn nights, along with beetles, caterpillars, and fallen fruit. However, declining invertebrate populations mean natural food sources often prove insufficient for adequate fat accumulation. This deficiency has made supplementary feeding critically important for hedgehog survival, particularly in areas affected by intensive agriculture or urban development.

The British dish that saves lives

Meat-based cat and dog food has emerged as the single most important supplementary food for pre-hibernation hedgehogs. This readily available British staple provides the high-protein, high-fat nutrition hedgehogs require to build essential reserves. Unlike bread or milk, which are indigestible and potentially harmful to hedgehogs, quality meat-based pet food closely mirrors their natural insectivorous diet.

Recommended feeding practices include:

• Offering food in shallow dishes to accommodate hedgehogs’ body shape
• Providing fresh water nightly, particularly during dry periods
• Using meat-based cat or dog food rather than fish varieties
• Continuing feeding through autumn until hedgehogs cease visiting
• Resuming feeding during mild winter spells when hedgehogs may wake

Proprietary hedgehog food also offers excellent nutrition, though meat-based pet food remains the most accessible and cost-effective option for most households. The importance of this simple intervention cannot be overstated: adequate autumn feeding can mean the difference between successful hibernation and starvation.

Individual preparation efforts, however, ultimately depend on the broader habitat quality that gardens collectively provide.

The role of British gardens in hedgehog survival

Creating hedgehog-friendly spaces

British gardens collectively represent a vast conservation resource for hedgehogs, potentially covering more area than all nature reserves combined. However, realising this potential requires deliberate management choices that prioritise wildlife alongside aesthetic considerations. Hedgehog-friendly gardens incorporate several key features that support not only hibernation but year-round survival.

Essential garden modifications include:

• Creating 13cm × 13cm gaps in boundaries to enable hedgehog movement between gardens
• Leaving areas of garden deliberately wild with long grass and leaf litter
• Avoiding pesticides and slug pellets that poison hedgehogs or eliminate their food
• Checking compost heaps and bonfires before disturbing them
• Providing shallow water dishes and supplementary food
• Installing purpose-built hedgehog houses in quiet, sheltered locations

Community conservation efforts

Individual garden improvements gain exponentially greater value when implemented across neighbourhoods, creating connected habitat networks that enable hedgehog populations to thrive. Community-level initiatives have demonstrated remarkable success in stabilising or increasing local hedgehog numbers. Street-by-street programmes encouraging boundary gaps, supplementary feeding, and habitat creation have reversed declines in numerous urban areas.

These collective efforts have proven particularly effective in urban environments, where garden density creates potential for extensive habitat networks. The success of garden-based conservation demonstrates that reversing hedgehog decline requires neither vast spaces nor specialist knowledge, merely widespread adoption of simple, practical measures by ordinary householders.

The cumulative impact of millions of gardens managed with hedgehogs in mind could transform the conservation outlook for this beloved species, ensuring that future generations continue to encounter these charming nocturnal visitors.

British hedgehogs face unprecedented challenges, with populations having declined by one-third to three-quarters in rural areas over recent decades. Their survival increasingly depends on human intervention, particularly during the critical pre-hibernation period when adequate fat reserves determine whether individuals survive until spring. Meat-based cat and dog food has become an essential supplementary resource, providing the high-protein nutrition hedgehogs need when natural invertebrate populations prove insufficient. Gardens have emerged as vital refuges, offering both feeding opportunities and hibernation sites that compensate for disappearing countryside habitats. Through simple actions such as providing appropriate food and water, creating boundary gaps, and maintaining wild areas, every householder can contribute meaningfully to hedgehog conservation. The species’ fate ultimately rests not with distant conservation organisations but with millions of individual gardeners whose collective choices will determine whether hedgehogs remain part of Britain’s natural heritage.