Found a hedgehog during the day? Here's what to do (and what never to feed it)

The hedgehog is a nocturnal animal. It leaves its den at dusk, walks for hours in search of slugs, earthworms and insects, then returns before dawn. That's been its rhythm for millions of years.

So if you see one out in broad daylight — in your garden or in the middle of the road — something is almost always wrong.

How to tell if it really needs help

Not every hedgehog you see needs rescuing. Here's how to tell an animal in trouble from one simply passing through:

It needs help if:

• It's out during the day, especially in direct sunlight
• It's wobbling, walking in circles, or falling on its side
• It doesn't curl into a ball when you approach (a healthy hedgehog always does this by instinct)
• It has visible wounds, open sores, or crusted skin
• It's covered in fly larvae or maggots — a sign it's been lying still for hours
• It weighs less than an apple (under about 500g): it won't survive winter

Don't intervene if:

• You find it motionless in a sheltered corner during winter (it's hibernating — do not disturb it under any circumstances)
• It's walking normally in the evening or at night

How to pick it up safely

The spines aren't venomous, but they do prick. Use gardening gloves or a pair of folded towels. Support the whole body — don't let it swing.

Put it in a cardboard box with ventilation holes. Line the bottom with old cloths or a towel (not straw or wood chips: they get caught in the spines). The box should be big enough for it to stand naturally.

Warmth first. A hedgehog in distress is often hypothermic. Place a warm water bottle (not boiling) wrapped in a cloth on the floor of the box, next to the animal but not underneath it — it must be able to move away if it gets too warm.

Keep it in the dark and quiet. Away from dogs, cats, and children.

The mistake that kills hedgehogs: milk

It's the most common piece of advice given to people who find a hedgehog: "give it some milk." It's a well-meaning instinct, but milk is lethal for hedgehogs. They're lactose intolerant: milk causes severe diarrhea, dehydration and death within hours.

Don't give it bread, fruit, sweets or pet food either.

If you want to do something while waiting to contact a rescue centre, put a shallow bowl of fresh (not cold) water nearby — they'll drink willingly.

Contact a rescue centre straight away

Don't wait until the next day "to see how it's doing." A hedgehog you see out in the day has probably already been struggling for hours. Every hour that passes reduces its chances of recovery.

Use WildSOS to find the nearest wildlife rescue centre (CRAS): search for your location and we'll show you the centres that accept hedgehogs, with direct phone numbers.

Something you might not know

A hedgehog has around 5,000–7,000 spines on its back — not modified hair, but actual bone-derived structures. In a single night it can travel up to 3 km and eat 200 grams of invertebrates. It's one of the most valuable allies a garden can have: if you're finding one, chances are it's been living in yours for some time.

Is it legal to keep one?

No. The European hedgehog is protected under Italian Law 157/1992: you cannot keep one at home even temporarily without committing an offence. You can pick it up to take it to a rescue centre — that's rescue, not possession. Keeping it as a pet is illegal.

The African pygmy hedgehog sold in pet shops is a different species with different legal status.