Animal experts concerned

Only near-natural gardens can help hedgehogs

Climate change, flooding, sterile gardens - hedgehogs are highly endangered in Carinthia. If we don't help them, they will soon be gone!

Carinthia's hedgehog rescuers Claudia Liegl-Raunigg, Manuela Kurath and Michaela Dworak from Vogelhilfe can already tell you a thing or two about this. Due to climate change, especially the mild winters, hedgehogs are waking up from hibernation and are then extremely endangered. If they are not found by animal lovers, they face death. "And even if you find a hedgehog, you need to know how to help it properly," emphasizes hedgehog expert Claudia Liegl-Raunigg, who has been looking after the prickly fellows for years.

Lecture in the Kultursaal Launsdorf
On Thursday, March 14, at 6 p.m. in the Kultursaal Launsdorf, she will give a lecture entitled "Hedgehog protection and hedgehog help" and provide useful tips on how to help the little garden friends all year round. After all, sterile gardens and lawn robots are now one of the biggest problems for the little animals. "The injuries caused by robot mowers are fatal. If you can at least switch them off at night, that will help," emphasizes Liegl-Raunigg.

The hedgehog expert talks about nesting options, correct feeding, insect-friendly garden design, hibernation, feeding hedgehogs to the required weight and, above all, when a hedgehog needs help.

Hedgehogs do not tolerate snails
"Numerous hedgehogs, especially young ones, were also in danger due to the floods last year, were washed ashore and had to be saved from hypothermia," says the animal lover, who continues to fight tirelessly for more understanding for the insectivores. And always has to point out that hedgehogs are not snail eaters. "That's a misconception," says Liegl-Raunigg.