Feeding a visiting hedgehog can be one of the simplest ways to support wildlife in your garden. But, as with all wild animals, the right food, in the right amount, matters.

The best way to help hedgehogs is always to support their natural diet: create wild corners, leave log piles, avoid pesticides where possible, and keep gardens connected so hedgehogs can forage naturally. 

The golden rule: small amounts, clean water, safe food

Supplementary food should be just that — a supplement. It should form only one small part of the varied diet a scavenging hedgehog may find each night. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society recommends helping hedgehogs by creating natural foraging spaces, then supplementing with suitable foods such as meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food, or dry cat biscuits, with fresh water always available.

A good hedgehog feeding routine is simple:

Put out a small amount of suitable food at dusk in a shallow dish. Always provide a separate bowl of fresh water. Remove uneaten food the next morning and wash dishes regularly to reduce the risk of spreading disease between visiting hedgehogs. The RSPCA also advises refreshing food and water daily and warns never to give hedgehogs milk, as they are lactose intolerant, or bread, as it offers no nutritional benefit.

The Science - Why calcium and Phosphorus Matter - 

One of the most important things to understand when feeding hedgehogs is the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, often written as Ca:P.

For a food to be considered a safer, more nutritious snack for hedgehogs, the calcium level should be at least balanced with phosphorus, and ideally higher. A commonly recommended total diet range is around 1:1 to 2:1 calcium to phosphorus, meaning calcium should be equal to or higher than phosphorus overall. Dorset Hedgehog Rescue notes that the total diet is ideally around 2:1 to 1:1 Ca:P, while Vale Wildlife Hospital describes an ideal ratio as 1:1 or 1:1.5.

Our black soldier fly larvae, also known as calci worms, have a Ca:P ratio of 1.5:1. This means they contain more calcium than phosphorus, placing them within the balanced range widely discussed by hedgehog carers and rescues.

However, the total diet still matters. Even a well-balanced snack should not become the whole meal. We believe supplementary foods should be offered in small quantities only, alongside natural foraging and other suitable foods.

Why Avoid Phosphorus-heavy Foods

Some popular garden foods are now considered risky for hedgehogs when fed regularly or in large amounts. Hedgehogs often enjoy mealworms, peanuts and sunflower hearts, but they are much higher in phosphorus than calcium. The concern is not one accidental mouthful. The concern is repeated access to large quantities of a single phosphorus-rich food over time, especially for young, growing hedgehogs.

Wildlife Welfare Comes First

We are a business dedicated solely to the welfare of wildlife, and have been for over 20 years. That means we do not simply follow trends — we keep learning, reviewing new research, and improving our products wherever evidence suggests we can do better.

Hedgehog nutrition is an area where knowledge continues to develop. Research into metabolic bone disease in wild hedgehogs is still evolving, and ongoing studies are looking more closely at how diet and other factors may affect free-living populations.

Our aim is simple: to offer foods that help people support hedgehogs responsibly, without replacing the varied natural diet these remarkable animals need.

Why black Soldier Fly Larvae are Different From Mealworms

Black soldier fly larvae are naturally different from mealworms because they can provide a more favourable calcium-to-phosphorus balance. Our larvae have a Ca:P ratio of 1.5:1, making them a more calcium-balanced snack choice than phosphorus-heavy foods such as mealworms.

That said, “better balanced” does not mean “feed without limit.” Hedgehogs are wild scavengers. A healthy feeding station should support their natural diet, not replace it.

A sensible serving might be a small sprinkle of calci worms mixed with hedgehog biscuits, rather than a bowl full of insects. Think of them as a nutritious topper, not the main course.