Hedgehogs May Love These Foods, but They Can Harm Them: What Not to Leave in Your Garden

Hedgehogs may readily eat bread or drink milk left in a garden, but both can harm them. As the animals prepare for winter, experts are urging people to choose their food carefully.

Hedgehogs become more active from late summer into early autumn while searching for enough food to build fat reserves. In cities, where natural food sources can be harder to find, they may appear more often in gardens.

The RSPCA recommends wet, meat-based canned food for cats or dogs. It should be placed in a shallow dish so hedgehogs can reach it easily. Fresh food should not remain outside for long, and clean drinking water is important.

Bread provides almost no nutritional value, while milk can cause digestive problems that may lead to dehydration and malnutrition. Peanuts and sunflower seeds can contribute to metabolic bone disease, a serious condition that weakens bones and can be fatal. Fruit may cause digestive and dental problems.

Raw meat can contain bacteria such as salmonella. Processed meats are also unsuitable because they contain too much salt. For anyone who wants to leave meat for hedgehogs, balanced cat or dog food is described as the safest option.