Homes for hedgehogs - Hedgehog housing

If you can’t add any of those features, or would like to provide an alternative, you can make or buy your own hedgehog house. Hedgehog houses can be made out of almost anything, but there are a few things you should think about if making your own. 

• Make sure the entry is big enough – it needs to be 13cm x 13cm.
• You can use a plain box, but ideally you need a tunnel to stop predators reaching into the house. You can use a pipe to make a simple tunnel, or if this isn’t possible, create an interior wall that the hedgehog can hide behind.
• Line the nest with dry bedding like dry leaves or straw bedding for pets.
• Covering the box with plastic sheeting and then covering it with leaves soil and grass cuttings will help disguise it.
• Don’t use treated wood and leave any wood unpainted, as the smell will be too strong for hedgehogs. Wood treatment can also contain chemicals that are harmful to many forms of wildlife.
• When placing your hedgehog house, choose a quiet area with lots of shade.

Your hedgehog information pack contains information on how to make your own hedgehog home. If you would like to buy one there are hundreds available online, just make sure that it is made of non-treated material and has a tunnel or internal wall. 

Once your Hedgehog house is in place remember to clear it out once a year in March or April – as long as it’s empty - so that it’s fresh for the next hedgehog family that might want to move in.