5 hedgehog myths you thought were real

And how to invite them into your garden
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Voted Britain's favourite mammal in 2016, the hedgehog is a welcome garden visitor nationwide. But, despite its sweet looks and charm, life isn't easy for this adorable critter. Many myths surrounding the hedgehog have emerged over the years that have hindered efforts made by conservationists to increase the numbers of our prickled pals.

Thankfully, wildlife charity People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) have been working with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) to make sure these spiny mammals will continue to thrive across the UK.

The team are working to quash common mistruths about the humble hedgehog. Have you fallen victim to any?

Myth 1. Can you spot which is Britain's native hedgehog?

The West-European hedgehog is Britain's native bristly mammal. They have darker, more rounded features.

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Conversely, African pygmy hedgehogs have pale facial hair, pink-brown snouts, lighter spines and pointier features. Pygmy hedgehogs cannot survive in the wild in the UK but are sometimes kept as exotic pets seen across social media - often incorrectly labelled as native British hedgehogs.

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Myth 2. There were 30 million hedgehogs in Britain in the 1950s

Naturalist Maurice Burton once suggested that there were 30 million hedgehogs in the 1950s and this figure seems to have stuck - but in truth, we have no idea how many hedgehogs there were at that time, although we do know they were more abundant.

Evidence suggests hedgehogs have been declining in England since at least the 1990s when formal monitoring first started, though it's thought populations had been declining for much longer. It is now estimated that populations have declined by up to a third in urban areas, and by at least half in rural areas since 2000.

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Myth 3. British hedgehogs are threatened with extinction

Although population trends do show an ongoing decline, it's unlikely that this will eventually result in hedgehog extinction (phew!). Should the decline continue, it is likely that hedgehogs will survive in select patches of land.

The main concern is that hedgehogs are becoming a rare sight in our gardens, parks and other spaces - across both rural and urban landscapes. If this continues, it could result in huge parts of Britain not being home to any hedgehog populations at all, which would be tragic. This is more realistic as a consequence, rather than extinction.

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Myth 4. Hedgehogs like bread and milk

It's brilliant that people want to help provide food for hedgehogs, especially when nature's table may be scarce, but hedgehogs, like humans, can only eat and drink certain things.

Did you know that hedgehogs are lactose intolerant? So, if you'd like to leave a drink out for passing hedgehogs, please make sure it's a small bowl of water.

Feeding bread to hedgehogs, like ducks at your local pond, is not recommended. A hedgehog's diet is mostly protein-based, so either provide specific hedgehog food or meat-based pet food, with the option of small amounts of crushed unsalted nuts and/or mealworms – your hedgehogs will thank you for it.

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Myth 5. Hedgehogs transmit fleas to pets

Hedgehogs are often branded as fleabags but the hedgehog flea (archaeopsylla erinacei) is host-specific, meaning it will only survive on hedgehogs. So, if a hedgehog flea were to be transferred onto one of your pets, it will soon hop or drop off.

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Now that you have the right information about your garden visitors, there are a number of ways you can transform your garden into an ideal hedgehog home.

Hedgehog Street was set up in 2011 and is a citizen science campaign that offers advice on how to support hedgehogs across the country.

The campaign encourages people to connect their gardens and green spaces together to make sure hedgehogs' have access to shelter, food and their friends. Since the launch, 43,000 volunteers have been inspired to link up their gardens and create hedgehog-friendly neighbourhoods.

How to make you garden hedgehog friendly

  • Make a small hole in your garden fence, wall or other barriers. It doesn't need to be any bigger than a CD case, and will give hedgehogs free passage to neighbouring gardens.
  • Provide suitable food for them, nothing gourmet: just some meaty pet food and water will do fine.
  • Log your 'hog sightings – dead or alive – to The Big Hedgehog Map to see how they're thriving in your community.

    By following these simple tips you'll be making a better life for our nation's favourite mammal.

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