Main Food Sources:
* Insects: This is their primary food source, including beetles, caterpillars, worms, slugs, spiders, and ants.
* Other invertebrates: They'll also eat snails, centipedes, and even woodlice.
* Small vertebrates: Occasionally, hedgehogs might eat small amphibians like frogs and toads, or even small reptiles like lizards.
Other Food Sources:
* Fruit and berries: Hedgehogs will supplement their diet with fallen fruit and berries, especially during autumn.
* Birds' eggs: They might occasionally eat birds' eggs, especially if they find nests on the ground.
* Pet food: Hedgehogs are known to scavenge for pet food left outside, but this should be avoided as it can be unhealthy for them.
Things to Avoid:
* Milk: Milk can be harmful to hedgehogs, causing digestive problems and diarrhoea.
* Bread: Bread is not a natural food for hedgehogs and provides little nutritional value.
* Processed foods: Processed foods are also unhealthy and can upset their digestive systems.
Important Note: Wild hedgehogs should be left alone to find their own food. Feeding them can lead to dependence and health problems.