Helping hedgehogs
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society is based in the Midlands in Ludlow. When I talked to the woman in charge, Fay Vass, she said hedgehogs face a huge number of problems but there is action we can all take to help.
At the moment the society is running a campaign to encourage postal workers not to drop their red rubber bands since these are just one of the many pieces of litter that hedgehogs can get tangled up in.
And of course at this time of year if you are planning a bonfire for November the 5th you want to check it for hibernating hedgehogs. Or even better store the wood in a pile and move it to the bonfire location on the day you intend to light it.
But longer term we can all take action to make our gardens in particular more hedgehog friendly. Hedgehogs have a surprisingly large territory and will often travel up to a mile every night looking for food.
As we make our gardens more secure though we make it harder for hedgehogs to roam. So with the aid of funding from the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wildlife Fund there's now a website that is full of advice on how a few small changes in our gardens can improve things. Click to find out more and request a free pack to get you started.
And since hedgehogs love eating slugs just a few small changes in your garden could bring welcome relief to your hostas too.
I'm David Gregory, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Science Correspondent for the West Midlands. My first law states: "Science is the answer." There is no second law. Feel free to drop me a line: 
Comment number 1.
At 30th Oct 2011, BluesBerry wrote:The Canadian Hedgehogs - one of the cutest animals on earth that also happen to have a pelt of sharp quills. Let's face it, hedgehogs don’t jump into the mind when you're thinking about cuddly pets. But hedgehogs can be playful, loving, & extremely loyal.
Hedgehogs typically need to be kept warm to stay healthy. They should be kept in a room that is at least 70 degrees (preferably a little warmer), which makes them a great pet for people in warmer parts of the country. A typical hedgehog will live between 3 & 5 years, though some have been known to live as long as 10 in captivity.
Hedgehogs are smart; they have distinct personalities. Most of them are very independent. They don’t require as much time/attention as a dog/cat. Often apartments that don’t allow dogs or cats will allow hedgehogs.
What about those quills! Scent is very important to hedgehogs because their eyesight is not good, so hedgehogs should be handled with your bare hands when possible. If a hedgehog is used to your contact, it will unroll immediately when you pick them up. If you don’t feel comfortable trying to hold your new hedgehog with bare hands, use some cloth that still has your scent on it. But watch for loose threads, which can get wrapped around a hedgehog’s tiny toes.
Hedgehogs like to cuddle & sit in your lap. You can watch TV, use your computer with them on your lap, & even carry them around in a sweatshirt pocket. (Perhaps to a business meeting!)
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