Hedgehog conservation efforts and winter care in Germany

As autumn approaches, conservationists and local authorities in Germany are emphasizing the importance of proper care for hedgehogs to ensure they survive the winter. The European hedgehog has been on the Red List of threatened species since 2020, prompting calls for increased public awareness and support for local wildlife rescue centers.

Experts warn against common mistakes made by well-intentioned gardeners, such as providing milk, which hedgehogs cannot digest due to lactose intolerance, or relocating animals to forests where they may not thrive. Instead, caregivers are advised to provide fresh water and high-protein, grain-free cat food, unseasoned scrambled eggs, or specialized hedgehog food to help them build necessary fat reserves.

To facilitate safe hibernation, residents are encouraged to create natural shelters using leaf piles, twigs, and deadwood, or to use bottomless hedgehog houses that allow animals to burrow naturally. In Göttingen, the city is seeking volunteers to support hedgehog care stations and provide sheltered areas for overwintering. Meanwhile, wildlife rescue organizations, such as the Wildtierhilfe Schäfer in Mücke, are currently caring for over 100 hedgehogs, many of which were recovered from the Rhine-Main region.