BY now the majority of hedgehogs should be in hibernation and will not normally be active again until March or April depending on the weather.

Those still awake are likely to be regular visitors to that life-saving food bank in your garden. If you happen to see a new visitor then it may need to be rescued depending on the weather and condition of the hedgehog.

It needs to be a minimum of 600 grams at this time of the year.

If the weather is mild and dry and you decide to tidy up in the garden please take care when moving piles of debris and leaves as there may be a hibernating hedgehog in there.

If you do find one put everything back and leave until he awakes in the spring, after all he is the gardeners best friend and will gobble up all those little beasties for you when he awakes.

For those hedgehogs in care some will be sleeping but many will still be awake, munching their way through tins and packets of food.

In the summer when litters of hoglets of the same size and age (providing they are well enough).

However, at this time of year they have to be kept apart which means there are even more cages to be cleaned out.

While most people know that hedgehogs are nocturnal they do not realise that a hedgehog out during the day is in trouble and needs help.

In some cases it could just be that he has been disturbed from the nest. In this case he will be hurrying and looking purposeful in his movements, but if he is listless and laying about he is in serious trouble and needs immediate help.

Do not wait and see but phone me on 01229 464829, if there is no reply leave a message and I will ring you back as soon as I can.

We can all do our bit whether it is feeding those that come our way, helping them when they are sick or injured or spreading the word about how we can help them when they visit out gardens.

It is likely that any hedgehogs out and about at this time of year will need rescuing – unless they are regular visitors and you are monitoring them. If you think you may have them visiting or if you think they might be hibernating in your garden it may be an idea to keep dishes of food available for them should they still be awake or wake early. Use as a dry type of food as this will not go off. Protect the food and any feeding hedgehogs, from adverse weather conditions.

<u>THE HEDGEHOGS’ YEAR</u>

JANUARY holds nothing in store except warmth, dreams and a gentle snore

FEBRUARY and all reserves are gone, yet the silent slumber lingers on

MARCH brings life to the undergrowth, the one which insects fear the most

APRIL and all hedgehogs awaken, that cosy nest is now forsaken

MAY hedgehogs mate by the light of the moon, the pregnant females awaiting June

JUNE and out the babies come all united with their mum

JULY and mum gives guidance on how to catch and get their sustenance

AUGUST is when they leave their home, out to the big wide world alone

SEPTEMBER is when late litters are born, orphans are sure to turn up on your lawn

OCTOBER is when winter nests are constructed and juicy morsels are collected

NOVEMBER is when hibernation begins, most hedgehogs now bed down till spring

DECEMBER is when all are hibernating, yet they are occasionally awake</i>