Hedgehogs are presently wobbling and moving in circles due to a mysterious condition. - Hedgehogs Spotted Performing Spinning Movements and Running Circles in Local Region
## Supporting Hedgehogs During the Mating Season: A Guide for Gardeners
As the first baby hedgehogs are born across Germany, the German Wildlife Foundation is drawing attention to the importance of creating hedgehog-friendly gardens during the mating season. This period, marked by the unique behaviour known as the "hedgehog carousel," requires special consideration to ensure the well-being of these adorable creatures.
### The Hedgehog Carousel: A Unique Mating Ritual
During the mating season, male hedgehogs engage in a courtship behaviour known as circling, where they circle around the female. This behaviour, part of their mating rituals, serves several purposes: attraction, courtship, permission seeking, and even establishing dominance [1][2][3].
### Gardeners' Role in Supporting Hedgehogs
Gardeners can play a crucial role in supporting hedgehogs during this critical time. Here are some practical tips:
1. **Providing Safe Habitat**: Ensure that your garden offers shelter and safety for hedgehogs. This can include leaving some areas of the garden untidy for nesting sites.
2. **Avoiding Disturbance**: Try not to disturb hedgehogs during mating season, as this can stress them and disrupt their behaviour.
3. **Offering Food and Water**: Provide appropriate food and water sources for hedgehogs. This can help them have the energy needed for mating and other activities.
4. **Creating Hedgehog-Friendly Paths**: Consider creating small holes in fences or walls to allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens, which is crucial during mating season when they may travel more.
While the search results do not contain specific information about gardening tips during the hedgehog mating season, general advice for supporting hedgehogs in gardens can be applied to ensure their well-being during this time.
### Precautions to Take
Gardeners should also be careful when gardening near potential hedgehog nests to avoid disturbing the mothers. Hedgehog nests are often found in leaf piles and dead wood. It's essential to exercise caution, as disturbed hedgehog mothers might leave the nest, potentially causing the offspring to starve.
Lawnmowers pose a danger to hedgehogs in gardens, so it's important to be vigilant when using them, particularly during the mating season when hedgehogs are more active. The association Wildtiere OWL draws attention to injuries and deaths of garden animals caused by lawnmowers.
By following these simple guidelines, gardeners can help ensure the survival and thriving of hedgehogs in their gardens during the mating season. Let's work together to create a more hedgehog-friendly world!
Sources: [1] The German Wildlife Foundation (2021) Hedgehog-friendly Gardens. [Online] Available at: https://www.wildtier.org/en/projects/hedgehog-friendly-gardens/ [2] The Hedgehog Street (2021) Hedgehog Behaviour. [Online] Available at: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/hedgehogs/behaviour/ [3] The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (2021) Hedgehog Fact Sheet. [Online] Available at: https://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/fact-sheets/
- To further support the hedgehog community during the mating season, consider expanding your efforts beyond the garden to vocational training programs that teach sustainable gardening practices, promoting a lifestyle that benefits wildlife.
- Beyond gardening and home-and-garden modifications, consider implementing hedgehog-friendly policies in your fashion-and-beauty products, ensuring that no harmful substances are harmful to these charming creatures and their habitats.
