Your frequently asked questions, answered!

CAN I VISIT THE HOGSPITAL?

We are not open to the public, as this would require a zoo licence and our patients are wild animals recovering from illness or injury. To give them the best chance of rehabilitation, we keep human contact, noise and disturbance to a minimum.

You can still meet some of our hedgehog patients and follow their journeys through our social media channels. We also offer virtual tours of the rescue and our wildlife garden via Zoom or Teams for those wishing to learn more about our work.

ARE HEDGEHOGS MEANT TO BE OUT IN DAYLIGHT?

No. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so seeing one out during the day is usually a sign that something is wrong. Please contact a rescue immediately for advice if you spot a hedgehog active in daylight.

WHAT SHOULD I FEED A WILD HEDGEHOG?

We recommend feeding cat/kitten biscuits, the small pieces are ideal for hedgehogs. Wet cat or dog food can also be offered as an alternative. Hedgehog‑specific foods such as Ark, Brambles and Spikes are also suitable. There are a number of hedgehog foods available but please note that these are not regulated in the same way cat or dog foods are. Whichever food you choose, please check the ingredients carefully to ensure it has a low wheat content and contains no mealworms, peanuts or sunflower hearts.

Please never feed mealworms, sunflower hearts or peanuts, as these are high in phosphorus and can contribute to metabolic bone disease. Hedgehogs are also lactose intolerant, so avoid offering milk or bread.

For more detailed guidance, please visit our Help Hedgehogs section.

HOW TO DO I STOP THE CATS STEALING THE HEDGEHOG FOOD?

Feeding stations can be made easily using an upturned plastic crate or stacker box with an arc‑shaped entrance cut into one side. A 13 cm gap is sufficient for hedgehogs of all sizes to access. Use bricks to weigh the box down and position additional bricks 13 cm inside and in front of the entrance to create a simple zig‑zag entry—an effective way to prevent cats from getting in.

For further guidance, please visit our Feeding Wild Hedgehogs page.

CAN I ADOPT A HEDGEHOG?

All of our patients are wild European hedgehogs and, as a protected species under UK law, they cannot be kept as pets. African Pygmy hedgehogs are sometimes kept as exotic pets, but they are a completely different species to our native hedgehogs.

You can, however, support a wild hedgehog’s journey back to the wild by sponsoring our our patients and helping fund their rehabilitation.

CAN I HAVE A HEDGEHOG FOR MY GARDEN?

Wherever possible, we release hedgehogs back to the location where they were found. If this is not appropriate or the site is unsafe, we place them at one of our approved release sites nearby. Returning hedgehogs—especially adults—to their original area has clear benefits, as they are already familiar with local nest sites and water sources reducing the adjustment phase after release. They may also have existing immunity to diseases present in that environment.

We have established a network of release sites across Cornwall to support this process. Visit our Release Site page to see the criteria, locations we are actively seeking new sites and to submit an application.

IS MY HEDGEHOG VISITOR TOO SMALL TO HIBERNATE?

Mid November onwards hedgehogs will start to enter hibernation, but this is very weather dependent and can be as late as January or February here in Cornwall. Due to Cornwall’s mild winters and consequently shorter hibernation period, our recent experience shows that many smaller hedgehogs cope well without intervention when supportive food is provided. Please see our Feeding Wild Hedgehogs page for guidance on offering appropriate food.

In most cases, we only intervene if a hedgehog appears unwell or is active during the daytime. Admitting a healthy hedgehog can be highly stressful for the animal and may trigger health issues that would not have occurred if it remained in the wild.

If you have any concerns, please call us. We triage every enquiry and provide tailored advice based on the situation.

*Please note we DO NOT recommend weighing wild hedgehogs visiting your garden, this causes unnecessary stress and is not an indicator of health. Here in Cornwall we focus much more on behaviour and body condition.

CAN I OVERWINTER OR FOSTER A HEDGEHOG?

This is not something we recommend, and we are not currently running a foster care programme. Other rescues may offer this, so if you are not local to us, please check with your nearest centre.

Hedgehogs are complex animals requiring specialist care. Autumn juveniles in particular often carry high internal parasite burdens that require specific injectable medications to treat effectively. Stress from handling and noise can also worsen existing conditions, causing parasite burdens to increase rapidly. For this reason, getting a hedgehog to a rescue as soon as possible gives it the best chance of recovery.

Recent research also indicates that overwintering hedgehogs is generally unnecessary, and that winter releases, when carried out in suitable weather conditions, can be both successful and beneficial.