The hedgehog, the essential animal of the garden, friend of the gardener
The life of the European hedgehog is full of pitfalls, but it is a valuable helper in the garden
so if you find one in your garden, do not drive it away!
It is to know that it is protected by the law since April 17, 1981.
It is not harmful, on the contrary, it will help you protect your garden from various insects.
Indeed, in its presence, harmful insects disappear, since the small mammal feeds on them.
Endowed with exceptional hearing and smell that allow it to easily detect its prey.
The hedgehog feeds mainly on: locusts, grasshoppers, slugs, snails, worms,
cockchafers, weevils, centipedes, etc.
In other words, it eats all the pests that damage your plants and vegetables!
It is therefore an economical and ecological alternative to pesticides.
We can all make our garden welcoming for this small mammal,
through simple actions to preserve its habitat and ensure its safety.
And this is very important at this time because the hedgehog goes into hibernation, which is why
it is important to build him a small cozy nest to spend the winter.
This is what we did in Saissac, in the Montagne Noire, at the La Porte d'Autan campsite,
by making two small shelters in quiet places on the campsite.
A hedgehog-friendly garden is an ecological garden!
Which is absolutely our case because Camping La Porte d'Autan is a refuge for the League for the Protection of Birds “LPO”, committed to Zero Phyto….
We hope he will find his happiness with us and that we will have the joy of meeting him in the spring.
Make a simple shelter
A simple upturned crate, covered with leaves, with an entrance 15
cm wide can be enough to accommodate the hedgehog.
Cover the crate with branches and dead leaves.
This gîte should be installed in a quiet location, sheltered from prevailing winds,
direct sunlight and rain (under a hedge, against a wall), the entrance facing
south-east if possible.
Do not put any material inside the roost. Let him bring the hay and grasses himself for the construction
of his nest.
