Hedgehog basket

Hedgehogs are simply adorable! Who doesn't love these prickly garden dwellers? If you want to offer these little creatures a safe home in your own garden, then this hedgehog basket from Esschert is just what you need! It's easy to set up, made from natural materials, and the little insectivores can easily fill it with leaves to create a cozy place for nesting and hibernation.

The best place for the little shelter is in a quiet, sheltered place, preferably next to a hedge or fence in the garden.

Material: willow branches

Dimensions 53 x 37.8 x 25.5 cm

Hedgehog houses – How to set them up correctly

To hibernate, hedgehogs need a place that is protected from the weather, quiet, and undisturbed. It's best to move the hedgehog house to a shady, hidden spot under bushes or a hedge in the garden in early autumn. This is when the animals begin preparing their winter quarters. During their annual cycle, hedgehogs need three different sleeping nests: a summer hibernation spot, which can be relatively sparsely furnished; a birthing site for the mother hedgehog, which should be sheltered and well-insulated to protect her offspring from the cold and predators; and a winter quarters where the hedgehog can hibernate. It shouldn't be too warm, so the hedgehog doesn't wake up too early.

Tips for the best location: The best spot is a quiet and shady corner of the garden—for example, under bushes. The entrance to the hedgehog's house should be on the side facing away from the weather. When it rains, no water should collect near or inside the hedgehog's house. To prevent it from getting too damp underneath, you can place a layer of gravel or sand underneath the house. Fill the house with oat straw and some dry autumn leaves. This provides good nesting material for the hedgehog to build a winter bed.

Additionally, leave autumn leaves near the hedgehog house so that the hedgehog can find nesting material according to its needs.

Important care tips for hedgehog houses: Please do not check to see if a hedgehog has "moved in"! That would only disturb the prickly guest. To check whether the house has been accepted, place a stalk in front of the entrance (in late autumn or early winter) so that the hedgehog has to move it aside when going in and out. This will tell you whether it has been active. If a hedgehog house is occupied and the hedgehog is inside: Please do not disturb! Cleaning a winter quarters can wait until the end of April. Once the hedgehog has left the house, it is recommended to clean the house with hot water and a brush. Cleaning is recommended in itself, as hedgehogs are usually infested with fleas. Winter nests and litter nests are usually cared for by the hedgehog itself.

Feeding: Feeding a hedgehog when it can find enough food on its own is counterproductive. Feeding during periods when food is scarce can be beneficial—shortly after waking up in early spring or in the fall after an early onset of winter. Ideally, hedgehogs need water nearby, and you can feed them wet or dry cat food, but this should be changed every three days.