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Research shows that the diet of a wild hedgehog is
- Beetles & Larvae 28%
- Caterpillars 25%
- Earthworms 18%
- Millipedes and Earwigs 13%
- Eggs and small dead mammals (if found on the ground) 6%
- Slugs & Snails 5%
- Bees, Birds and others 5%
Contrary to popular opinion, the bulk of a wild hedgehog's diet is not made up of slugs and snails and considering the volumes of both of these that are available to them, the fact that they eat so few would indicate they do so pretty much as a last resort.
Slugs and snails are intermediate hosts for lungworm, a parasite that can be fatal to a hedgehog causing respiratory problems often leading to pneumonia and death if not treated.
European Hedgehogs have been in decline over the past 10 years and are now marked as a protected species on the European Biodiversity List. It's estimated that we have lost 50% of the population and a continued decline will see them become extinct by 2020.
To assist their fight for survival you can help in many ways but perhaps the simplest is to provide food and water. Hedgehogs will happily eat meat (no gravy) and small biscuits bought for cats and dogs. They will also normally go for crushed unsaltedpeanuts, dried mealworms, sultanas and specialist food sold specifically for Hogs.
Do not give bread and milkHedgehogs will eat bread and drink milk if there is nothing else around but neither is good for them.Bread has no vitamins or minerals in it, it swells up in the stomach making the animal feel full so it doesn't bother to search for more nutritious food.
All hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. Most milk contains lactose, cow's milk is particularly high in it. If you feed this to a hedgehog it will get diarrhoea, dehydrate and die.
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What do wild hedgehogs eat?
hedge hogs eat insects!
What do baby hedgehogs eat?
Baby hedgehogs eat cat food and water
Is a hedgehog is a herbivore?
No. In the wild hedgehogs eat insects, but as pets they eat hedgehog food ( spikes delight) or high quality cat food.
Do hedgehogs dig for food?
Wild hedgehogs hunt for their food. Pet hedgehogs walk over to the food dish.
Are Hedgehog omnivores?
yes they eat vegetation and insects
What do hegehogs like to eat?
Certain types of bugs They also sell hedgehog food mix made just for hedgehogs
Do hedgehogs eat beetles?
Wild hedgehogs will eat just about any insect they can get their hands on. Domesticated hedgies can be fed mealworms, crickets, silk worms, wax worms, and repti-worms. Farm-raised ONLY, no wild-caught insects may be fed to domesticated hedgehogs!
What is a hedge hod carnivor pr ominvor or hebivor?
Hedgehogs, if you leave out the following, will eat minced meat, tinned dog or cat food (not fish-based). They will also eat crushed cat biscuits, or chopped boiled eggs. Don't feed them milk. In the wild hedgehogs will eat worms and slugs.
Why is it hard for hedgehogs to find food in winter?
Hedgehogs eat plenty of insects, grubs and worms, most of which aren't seen much in winter. With food being scarce, hedgehogs usually opt for hibernation.
What do the hedge hogs eat?
The hedgehog in my garden is partial to my cats food!ANS2:In the absence of cat food, a hedgehog will eat bugs...ants, beetle larvae, termites, etc.
What does a hedgehog get eating by?
Hedgehogs eat food like humans do - they chew it, then it is digested in the stomach.
Do hedgehogs eat all insects?
Hedgehogs eat a variety of things, mainly insects, but will eat earth worms, slugs, snails, frogs and birds eggs. They don't hunt for voles but will eat carrion, so would be opportunistic if they came across a dead one.
