Keep your gardens 'wild' for hedgehogs, urges Manx SPCA

A local charity is encouraging everybody to do their bit to help Hedgehogs, as they come out of hibernation.

The Manx SPCA says they're emerging earlier than usual this year, because of the 'relatively warm weather'.

They add when the hogs wake up from their 'winter rest', their body temperature drops and heart rate plummets and they require a huge amount of energy, meaning they need to find food and water straight away.

Hedgehogs are an endangered species, in urban areas their numbers have been affected by tidy gardens, the use of slug pellets, and heavy-duty fencing.

Meanwhile, in rural areas they have been adversely affected by the loss of hedgerows, the widespread use of pesticides, and an increase in the number of vehicles on our roads. 

So, the MSPCA is urging the public to 'do our bit' to help them survive.

To do so, you can leave out dog or cat food/biscuits, alongside a shallow water bowl.

Alternatively, you can let your garden to become a bit wilder as the charity says hedgehogs love longer grass and the insects that live in it.

For full details, you can visit the Manx SPC Facebook page.