Do you go out one fine morning or in the afternoon and come across a hedgehog in your garden? This situation worries you, you don’t know if it’s good sign or not ? Today we are going to clarify the meaning of this meeting for you. Indeed, coming across a hedgehog can be intriguing. Rest assured, this animal is often a good indicator of the health of your environment. Sometimes he is simply looking for food or shelter.
What does it mean to find a hedgehog in your garden?
You may not see it in real life but from certain clues you can deduce its presence and frequentation of the garden. This is not a bad sign, far from it. It’s quite indicative of the environment around you. The fact of having a hedgehog on your garden means that your immediate environment is ecologically healthy and is favorable to the development of other animals. You just have to consider yourself lucky because many interpret this as a good sign.
Having hedgehogs in your garden means you have a friendly environment, so don’t be afraid! They will not harm you or other animals in the house. If it’s winter and they come into your house or garden, it could mean one of three things: there may be food available, there may be small insects nearby (including worms) OR hedgehogs know that humans are kind enough to give them food when it’s cold outside, due to their hibernation period during which hedgehogs sleep for up to six months, depending on northern region where they live.
So if I see a hedgehog should I give it food immediately? No, hedgehogs are wild animals and as such should not be fed by humans. It’s up to hedgehogs to find food for themselves or to hibernate when it’s cold outside.
Meanings, superstitions and beliefs!
Discover a hedgehog in his garden is surrounded by many beliefs and superstitions, revealing what this can mean.
- A warning of danger : If a hedgehog is found dead near your house, it means that you or someone close to you may soon die.
- Good luck and prosperity : If the hedgehog spends the night in your house, luck will be with you.
- Financial prosperity : If there are hedgehogs all over your garden, this suggests that an influx of money is imminent for the household. According to some traditions, the hedgehog also offers protection against illness and accidents. So, try not to hurt them!
Indeed, these little creatures play a more important role than one might think, beyond their simple presence in our gardens.
Why do hedgehogs come to our gardens?
There are several reasons why one or more hedgehogs may frequent your garden. The most common reason is your garden located on their journey, connecting point A to point B. Thus, these small mammals only cross your green space. It is also possible that your garden attracts them because they feel there safe.
In general, hedgehogs are more common in the countryside, and if you live in the city, there’s a good chance you won’t see any in your garden. This means that their presence is often linked to the natural environment. To attract more hedgehogs, you might consider creating an inviting and safe space, such as a corner with dead leaves and dense bushes.
What to do if you have a hedgehog in your garden?
If you see a hedgehog or several, carefully exit the situation and let it continue on its way undisturbed. If there are babies with him (which is quite common), stay away so they can return to their mother safely after she has checked the surroundings. You might think this means something bad is going to happen, but no!
That simply means that hedgehogs feel safe around your home for whatever reason. Indeed, hedgehogs evaluate houses very well when looking for places to live near humans.
But what does mean this for you? This indicates that your environment is perceived as safe and welcoming. What then happens is that other hedgehogs can arrive at any time, because hedgehogs are very social animals. You might even witness the establishment of a small hedgehog community around your home.
What to do or not to do so that hedgehogs come?
There is no longer any fear to have, this hedgehog is a good messenger. Now, the best course of action is very simple and can be summarized as follows.
You need to stop using chemicals like pesticides. They are very dangerous for the health of the animal and you risk never seeing it come back. To show you the usefulness of keeping it in your garden and making it feel at home, we are going to give you some advantages.
The hedgehog is known as a gardener’s best friend for a very simple reason. It gets rid of snails, slugs and all other unwanted elements (and often harmful to the vegetable garden). Hence the saying: “Let the hedgehog do its job! It is an omnivore which will overcome all these pests without any problem.”
To keep it safe, avoid these chemicals and do not trim the hedges too much and, above all, to allow it to hibernate in winter, leave piles of dead leaves.
What happens if a hedgehog comes into my house?
If you have found a hedgehog inside your house, try to get it out without getting hurt, which can happen easily with hedgehogs’ thick skin! You might consider getting a small box and putting some litter paper in it before placing it near where the animal was seen entering (this will help you locate it at new) then just let nature take its course – do nothing but observe what happens next 🙂
And you, have you ever found a hedgehog in your garden? What have you done ?
*Updated 23 July 2024
