After last week’s cold spell, the weather has warmed up here in the South. The long-range weather forecast is for wet and windy weather, with the cold and snow being confined to high ground in the north.
The frost will have triggered many hedgehogs to start hibernation, though the warmer weather may mean they only dip in and out for short periods. Along with bats and dormice, hedgehogs are true hibernators, meaning they enter long periods of dormancy during the cold winter months. During these spells their heart rate, body temperature and metabolism reduce drastically to conserve energy.
Find out more about hibernation and how to help hedgehogs during winter:
• All your questions answered in our Hibernation FAQ
• We’re often asked whether to keep providing supplementary food for visiting hedgehogs over winter – The answer is YES… as long as it’s being eaten, and don’t forget to also leave out a shallow bowl of fresh water.
