https://www.bin-store.com/blog

Do you have hedgehogs in your garden? In some parts of the world, hedgehogs are regarded as pests, because they crowd out other species. They are voracious eaters, and tend to predate on baby mice and birds as well as eggs. But in other parts of the world, hedgehogs are welcome in gardens, because they help to cull out other species which can easily get out hand, like snails, slugs and grubs.

If you have hedgehogs in your garden which are helpful to your environment rather than harmful, it makes sense to take steps to invite them and protect them. That way they will continue to help you maintain the balance of your yard’s ecosystem. And guess what can help you do that? A plastic bin for gardening.

If you ever garden in plastic storage containers, you already know the type of bin I am talking about. This is just your standard run-of-the-mill all-purpose plastic tubs. As it turns out, with a few simple modifications, it can work great as a feeding station for hedgehogs.

While hedgehogs do predate on some small animals, they also tend to be targeted by cats and other domestic animals and wildlife. While hedgehogs are eating, they may be particularly susceptible to attack.

A plastic bin serving as a feeding station provides the hedgehog with shelter from predators and weather while eating.

To make the feeding station, you just need to follow a few simple steps:

1. Cut a hole the approximate size and shape of a hedgehog into one side of the plastic gardening tote. Do this near the top of the bin, as you will place the bin upside-down on the ground, and the top will thus become the bottom.

2. Cover the sides of the hole with duct tape so that they will not be sharp.

3. Put food in bowls inside the feeding station along with a bowl of water to drink. Foods which hedgehogs enjoy include tinned cat or dog food (do not use fish), cat biscuits (crush them first), or boiled eggs (chop them). Make sure to push the bowls to the far end of the feeding station so that the hedgehog will not be too close to the hole while eating. You do not want a cat to be able to reach inside and grab the hedgehog and pull it out.

While you are at it, make sure the rest of the yard is appealing to hedgehogs as well. If you leave some sections wilder and less cultivated, hedgehogs can nest there safely. Make sure that you always check through your compost or brush before chopping through it for any reason. That way you will keep the hedgehogs safe.

There are so many uses for plastic totes when you are gardening! Make a planter, get into worm composting, or build a feeding station for a hedgehog. You will find that the versatility of plastic bins around the yard is matched only by their affordability and durability!