Most of us humans are loving the current spell of hot weather but hedgehogs can suffer in the heat.
The ground dries out so the slugs and worms they love to eat are harder to find, and there is often less water around.
What food should I offer to my hedgehog visitors?
The best things to offer are hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food or complete cat biscuits. The only drink that should be offered is water (especially in dry weather and when offering dry food).
There’s a hedgehog in my garden sunbathing, is that ok?
No, it isn’t. Hedgehogs shouldn’t sunbathe and if you see one doing this it is in urgent need of help.
Use gardening gloves or a folded towel to pick it up, pop it into a high sided box with a towel or fleece in the bottom, keep it warm on a covered warm hot water bottle (even in hot weather), offer suitable food and water and then call BHPS on 01584 890 801 for further advice as soon as possible.
Couple turn home into hedgehog hospital - but now they&apos;re inundated!
Help! I’ve harmed a hedgehog while strimming my grass.
The British Hedgehog Society says this is undoubtedly one of the most worrying calls they receive.
The organisation advises people to check for hedgehogs thoroughly before strimming or mowing.
That&apos;s because the injuries hedgehogs suffer from strimmers are usually horrific and the animal often has to be put to sleep, if they aren&apos;t killed instantly.
If the worst happens, do check the surrounding areas for hoglets as the nest you have strimmed could be a nursery nest.
My dog doesn’t like hedgehogs in the garden, can you move it?
The answer is that unless you are prepared to hedgehog proof the entire garden, there is no point in moving the resident hedgehogs as others from the local population will very likely move into the vacated area.
If you are prepared to do this work, the best thing is to contact a local carer to see if they can safely relocate the hedgehog (avoiding baby season).
Otherwise, training the dog to leave hedgehogs alone is the ideal solution, taking the dog out for its ‘after dark’ run in the garden on a lead, using a muzzle and making lots of noise before the dog goes out to warn the hedgehog something is happening can help.
Hedgehogs often have a routine so if you see a hedgehog about at a certain time it is likely to be around near that time the next night – avoid letting the dog out at those times.
I want a hedgehog for my garden; can I just take one from the wild?
No! Taking one from an area where it knows food and water sources to an unknown area simply isn’t fair.
More worryingly, it could have dependent young in a nest, without its return, the nest will fail and the young won’t survive.
Can I ‘mark’ my hedgehogs?
We’re pretty sure a hedgehog would rather not be marked, but if you are going to do it, please do ensure that you use a non-toxic water-based marker and mark just a few spines of the hedgehog.
Keep the mark away from the hedgehog’s face and mark it in the garden on the ground rather than picking it up/bringing it indoors.
Don’t use red as people may mistake it for blood and ‘rescue’ it. Do not make hedgehog conspicuous to predators.
The British Hedgehog Society says it has seen some very sad images of poor hedgehogs practically covered in paint! If you are watching the hedgehogs on a wildlife camera you will often be able to tell them apart over time without the need for marking.
Hedgehog Awareness Week runs until May 12.