WITH the unseasonably warm weather this autumn, many animals haven’t yet gone into hibernation.

Now local wildlife experts are calling for people to help protect our more vulnerable creatures through the winter.

Kerry Staddon, spokeswoman for the Dorset Wildlife Trust, says there are more insects and bugs around than is usual for this time of year.

“We have also had increased sightings of hedgehog activity, which means they are likely delaying their hibernation time and making the most of the mild weather to put on a few extra pounds.

“Hedgehogs need to explore around 12 gardens a night to get a decent meal, so by making a small hole in your garden fence to allow for hedgehog traffic into other gardens, you can make a big difference to their night time foraging.”

Angela Squires, who runs CRASH (Care Rehabilitation and Aid for Sick Hedgehogs) a hedgehog hospital in Poole, says it’s the late litters that are the problem.

“These little ones don’t have enough body fat to hibernate so they go into a coma and die.”

Angela, currently caring for 40 young hedgehogs in her house in Canford Heath, says it’s not too late to save them.

“If you see a hedgehog in your garden during the daytime pick it up in a towel and weigh it. They need to be at least a pound and a half to survive.

“It’s amazing how a bit of warmth – a hot water bottle under a towel and a bit of cat or dog food – can bring them back to life.”

But Helen Bostock, senior horticultural adviser at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), says the delayed hibernating period isn’t all bad news for our wildlife.

“The warmer weather has meant that all food sources for hibernating creatures, including berries, insects, slugs and snails, have been available later on in the year and have given hibernating animals a few more weeks to build up their energy reserves for their big sleep period,” she said.

Problems occur if hibernation has already started in a cold snap and then the weather becomes warmer again. That causes the creatures to come out of a deep sleep and start looking for food, using up precious energy set aside for their sleep period, she adds.

Kate Bradbury, wildlife expert at Gardeners’ World magazine, which offers a guide to help wildlife during winter in its December issue, says: “Frogs occasionally hibernate in mud at the bottom of a pond, but more usually, along with toads and newts, hide themselves away under piles of damp leaves and rotting logs or in ditches, but may rouse on warm days and look for food.

“If you uncover a frog while gardening, cover it back up, preferably with a thick layer of dry leaves,” Kate advises.

Some frogs – particularly males – spend winter at the bottom of ponds, breathing through their skin.

In severe winters, thick ice on ponds can trap noxious gases in the water, poisoning the frogs below. So if your pond freezes over, melt a hole in the ice using a pan of boiled water to allow the gases to escape.

Toads and newts spend winter under stones or logs, or buried in mud. If you dig one up, don’t try to re-bury it or return it to a pond. Instead, place it gently on a compost heap to find shelter of its own accord.

If you uncover a queen bumblebee, cover her up again or move to a very similar spot and leave a sugar solution made of equal parts sugar and water nearby to give her strength to find another hibernating spot.

Most ladybirds spend winter in leaf litter or dense vegetation, but in an unheated room they will go into full hibernation.

“If you come across ladybirds outdoors, or bring any in on Christmas greenery, place them under dry leaf litter. In wet weather, pop them in a shed or greenhouse,” she adds.