In October 2024 the intrepid Hedgehog Survey Team braved soggy weather and sticky mud to gather data from two sites in Shrewsbury Park where hedgehogs were spotted in the previous survey October 2022.

We monitored and filmed for six days at both sites using footprint tunnels and a nature camera. And at last we can share the highlights!

Please read below a very informative report by Jan, a key member of the Survey Team:

Hedgehog Survey Reflection
What is a hedgehog?
The first thing I needed to know when I was young was “What is a hedgehog?” The question will always come to my head when I hear the word “hedgehog”. Hedgehogs are fuzzy little creatures, protective of themselves, but shy. Their spikes on their spine are a crude, but effective defence. They are nocturnal animals, sleeping in the day under an unused patch of land, and hunting in the night. They hunt for night bugs on the ground, and rarely eat grass if they can’t find any bugs.
 Why did I decide to do this project?
My dad first told me about this project when I was young, about 5 years old after we saw a hedgehog in the grass during a bat walk. Ever since, I have been going to participate in this project. It is fun, and exiting when you see the hedgehog on the recording. I like hedgehogs, and like to feed them and give them water. We do this in this project to see if they are in Shrewsbury Park, and which part they live in.
What have we learnt from this project?
Thanks to this survey, we have found many traces of hedgehogs in Shrewsbury Park, so we can confirm that the hedgehog’s population is present and well spread throughout the park. We have gathered evidence of the hedgehogs, such as recordings and tracks.
Conclusions
I had lots of fun doing this project and I hope our findings will help protect hedgehogs in England. If you can, please join us next year.

Here are some hedgehog facts found on the Hedgehog Street website – hedgehogstreet.org – worth a visit.

When do hedgehogs hibernate?

Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October/November through to March/April. Research has shown that each individual is likely to move nesting sites at least once during this period and so can sometimes be seen out and about. During mild winters hedgehogs can remain active well into November and December.

While in hibernation the hedgehog’s fuel supply comes from the fat stores it has built up over the summer. Eating enough before hibernation is vital and this is when supplementary feeding can prove important to hedgehogs.

Any disturbance during this period can be extremely dangerous, as hedgehogs use up their precious energy reserves in order to become active again.

Hedgehogs are generalists and feed on a wide range of things. The majority of their diet is made up of invertebrates (or creepy crawlies). We know what they eat from scientific studies that have analysed hedgehog poo or looked in the stomachs of hedgehogs killed on roads.

What do hedgehogs eat in the wild?

The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. As well as these, they also eat a wide range of other insects. More infrequently, they will take advantage of carrion, frogs, baby rodents, baby birds, birds’ eggs and fallen fruit.

What can I feed hedgehogs? Hedgehogs will relish any combination of meat-based wet dog or cat foods, or dry cat/kitten food. Just remember, they will be getting most of their food from insects and worms in the wild, and this food is only supplementary. Specially made hedgehog food is also widely available. Those resembling pet food with a high meat content are most suitable.

Place in a shallow dish and put in a sheltered area of your garden, or a feeding station (see below), around sunset. Splitting food over several sites may reduce aggression at food bowls. Don’t forget to offer water bowls too!“