December 3, 2025, 5:04 am | Read time: 4 minutes
A hedgehog in the garden can be a delightful sign of a healthy, natural environment. But what if the spiky visitor is out during the day, has sunken flanks, or appears apathetic? An injured hedgehog often causes uncertainty: Should you intervene? And if so, how? PETBOOK spoke with Dr. Angelika Nelson, a biologist and hedgehog expert at the Bavarian Society for the Protection of Birds (LBV), about typical warning signs and the correct approach.
When a Hedgehog Really Needs Help
Not every hedgehog that appears in the garden automatically needs help. “Healthy hedgehogs are nocturnal insectivores that are now preparing for hibernation in the fall,” explains Dr. Angelika Nelson from LBV. So if a hedgehog is only briefly out during the day to change its sleeping place, it’s not a concern.
It becomes problematic when hedgehogs show unusual behavior or appear visibly weakened, for example, if they:
- walk around for long periods during the day and not just briefly, to change their sleeping place
- actively search for food during the day
- have sunken flanks
Young animals weighing less than 500 grams also need expert support: They can hardly survive the winter otherwise. “In these cases, you can temporarily support hedgehogs with food, preferably wet cat food,” says Dr. Nelson.
What to Do if You Find an Injured Hedgehog?
You can recognize that a hedgehog needs support, for example, if it
- lies apathetically on the ground,
- does not curl up, or
- has open wounds or other visible injuries or limps.
In this case, careful action is required. “If a hedgehog is very weak or sick, you can carefully capture it and take it to the vet.”
When capturing, you should definitely wear gloves to protect yourself from spines and parasites. “Then you can carefully place it in a cardboard box with air holes,” advises Nelson. You can put some paper towels in the box as a base.
“Since many weakened hedgehogs are hypothermic, you can also place a hot water bottle with lukewarm water in the box and place the hedgehog on or next to it.”
You should not stress it further by handling the hedgehog or forcing it to react by shaking the box or similar actions. The best way to help the animal: cover the box and quickly seek expert help.
How Can You Tell if a Hedgehog Is Underweight?
Found a Baby Hedgehog in Your Garden? Here’s What to Do
When to Contact a Hedgehog Station or a Veterinarian?
Wildlife stations, hedgehog help centers, or veterinarians can assess whether immediate action is necessary—and what to do next. When in doubt, it’s better to ask once too often. “It’s best to call a specialist as soon as there are doubts, and preferably even before capturing, who can also advise by phone and say whether capturing is necessary,” says Dr. Nelson. Photos can also help assess the situation if needed.
How to Support Hedgehogs in the Garden
People can contribute to ensuring that hedgehogs do not get into trouble. “The best help for the hedgehog is to maintain or design its habitat for all its needs—food, sleeping nest, place to hibernate, nursery,” explains Dr. Nelson.
Hedgehogs feel most comfortable in a natural garden with retreat options. You can create these by:
- leaving piles of leaves and brushwood
- not completely removing undergrowth in hedges
- planting hedges and shrubs that provide cover
If you don’t have these structures, you can help: “As an alternative to a pile of leaves and brushwood, you can set up a weather-protected hedgehog house made of wood in a quiet corner.” It’s best not to open it afterward to avoid disturbing the hedgehog.
Hedgehogs are protected wild animals. They primarily need: peace, natural habitats—and in emergencies, quick, expert help. Those who observe carefully and seek advice when in doubt help the animals best through the fall and safely into hibernation.