How to build a shelter to help hedgehogs survive the winter

In the fall, hedgehogs seek refuge to hibernate. In just a few steps, build a hedgehog house and help them get through the winter

He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him

In autumn, low temperatures cause hedgehogs to look for a bed to hibernate. However, they do not always manage to find a welcoming and safe refuge, especially in more urbanized areas. So why not help them with a small DIY house?

It is not uncommon for those lucky enough to live in rural areas to come across small hedgehogs. These cute thorny insectivores are welcome in the garden! In fact, they eat bothersome insects that can ruin plants and crops, such as snails and earthworms.

Since they are harmless and are also friends of our garden, in a few steps we can build a small house to allow them to hibernate in peace.

Index

Why build a hedgehog house?

In October the hedgehogs begin to build their bed, which they will occupy in November. Basically healthy hedgehogs hibernate outdoors, in the middle of nature. They build their own shelter for the winter, hiding under piles of dry leaves and scrub. But some of them, if sick or disoriented, need a little help.

First, we can do something for all hedgehogs, harmless and endangered animals. For example, don't throw away dry leaves. Instead, it is better to pile them in a corner. In fact, piles of brushwood and hedges are ideal environments to hibernate in winter.

But if hedgehogs are particularly close to your heart, you can learn how to build a little house for them in just a few steps. It is a simple and fun activity, perhaps to do together with the children, to offer greater protection and tranquility to these cute little animals.

What to do if we find an injured hedgehog

Hedgehogs are on the verge of extinction. When we find one wounded, let's save him! If we come across an injured or battered hedgehog we must immediately contact the nearest Wild Animal Rescue Center. If we don't have any nearby, we can contact a veterinarian.

What it takes

There are various ways to build a hedgehog house, from the most precise and sophisticated methods to the simplest ones. If you are a DIY lover, you can equip yourself with the items listed below. If, on the other hand, you are the more hasty type and you love creative recycling, you can very well use a wine box or a fruit box.

Material:

2 small boards of dry and untreated wood, about 30 cm x 30 cm long;
2 longer wooden boards, 50 x 30 cm;
1 wooden board for the roof 60 x 40 cm;
sand paper;
a hacksaw to cut out the entrance;
nails and hammer;
small hinges for the door (optional);
roofing felt 65 x45cm;
dry leaves, straw, wooden sticks.

Method

In one of the longer ones, we will have to cut out, at the bottom and left, with a small hacksaw, a square entrance of about 10 cm. Here it is important to pass the sandpaper over the edges, to avoid hurting the small curls. You can decide to leave the entrance open or to add a small door to allow the hedgehog to enter and exit easily. To do this, you need hinges that allow you to open and close the door with a push.

At this point we can assemble the walls with a screwdriver or with nails and hammer.

Once the walls are created, the roof is placed on top of them and fixed with nails and hammer. Be careful not to let the nails stick out inside the house, we could injure the hedgehog!

Finally, again with nails and hammer, we fix the roofing felt panel on the roof, which will protect the house from the rain.

Where to place it

How to build a shelter to help hedgehogs survive the winter

We must look for a quiet place to place the house, possibly under a staircase or under a hedge. After that, we will have to line the floor of the hedgehog house with a lot of dry leaves. In a corner of the house we will also have to put a lot of straw, to allow the hedgehog to sleep in the warmth.

At this point we can cover the roof and walls with dry leaves to make it more inviting and similar to a natural den.