Hedgehog Cam: The delights of nature at night
By Laura Henton
Towards the end of the summer, I was letting the dogs out before going to bed when I happened to stumble across a hedgehog on the driveway. It was the middle of a long drought and, despite living in the countryside for most of my life, this was the first time I had ever seen a hedgehog in the flesh.
I assumed this hedgehog had ventured out of cover in search of water. Just as I wasn’t expecting to see the hedgehog, the hedgehog was expecting to see a human towering over its tiny frame, gasping with excitement. It promptly scuttled off into the bottom of a rose bush before the rest of the family had time to see it, including the dogs thankfully. Although, pugs are more likely to give a hedgehog a wide berth than get up close and personal!
I found a small dish of water and left it out that night, before beginning some research into these famously shy, nocturnal creatures.
There have been a number of hedgehog sightings this summer. Sadly, more hedgehogs have been in a state of distress than usual, due to the extreme heatwaves that hit the UK.
It is useful to highlight that if you ever see a hedgehog out during daytime hours, it is almost certainly very unwell. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has a plethora of information available that can help advise people about what to do, including some critical first aid steps that can be taken to help unwell hedgehogs survive. Thankfully, my hedgehog seemed fit and healthy, if just a little thirsty.
After finding out some more information about hedgehogs, I discovered that you could leave out special food for them and they will usually return to the same spot to feed. Hedgehogs feed on worms, earwigs and slugs, but they can also eat certain types of cat and dog food. I decided to purchase a small bag of special hedgehog food, along with a wildlife camera that has motion activated recording capabilities for some nighttime filming.
I placed the food near to the site where I had originally seen the hedgehog. I then set up the hedgehog camera, using a stone to rest it on.
Of course, there was huge excitement in the household the following morning when it was time to check the hedgehog camera and its memory card for any activity.
Our efforts were richly rewarded and the hedgehog had come to visit the feeding station many times after sunset. It first appeared at 9.30pm before making hourly return visits between 1am and 5am. The hedgehog visits every night at the moment and it is likely to be stocking up ahead of hibernating at the end of autumn.
The extra food will help the hedgehog last through several months of hibernation. While it may wake up on the odd occasion during winter, the hedgehog is likely to rest from November through until March. The creatures create nests in log piles, compost heaps and underneath hedges.
Having ‘Hedgehog Cam’ has been fascinating and provided so much enjoyment to the family. However, it won’t be long before its familiar little face doesn’t appear anymore.
At that point, we will know that its deep sleep has begun.
Next: Speakers confirmed for Cliveden Literary Festival 2026 – The Sloaney
