Ecologists are asking residents to leave water and food in their gardens as the hot and dry conditions are creating a drought for the animals and making it more difficult for them to forage in the hardened ground.
Islander Tracey Vibert was shocked to find a dead hedgehog, which was only a youth, in her front garden which is believed to have been severely dehydrated.
Dru Burdon of the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group said: ‘It is very, very dry at the moment and they are suffering through a lack of food and water.
‘They have just gotten over the danger of the Branchage and being exposed to the hedge strimmers and now they are suffering because of this.
‘We have had several cases reported to us where hedgehogs have been very dehydrated. The ground is very hard at the moment due to the dryness, so it is like the winter when it is frozen solid.
‘So, not only is there a lack of water for the hedgehogs, they are unable to dig into the ground for their natural food like earthworms and beetles. There aren’t many slugs around at the moment either.’
Mrs Vibert has now urged Islanders to leave dog or cat food out as well as water.
‘They need to do it on the ground as well so that the hedgehogs can reach. People are putting stuff out on their bird baths but they need to do it lower down too.’
She added: ‘The hedgehogs are having a really tough time at the moment, so hopefully people can help them out a bit. Apart from leaving food and water, another thing that would help is if people create little access holes to their garden so they come and get to more food.
‘Also if they are going to leave out food make sure it is not too dry. Don’t leave peanuts because that is very bad for them. And slug pellets are also really bad – if hedgehogs eat them, it gives them a very slow and painful death.’
More information about the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group can be found at jerseyhedgehogs.co.uk.
