European hedgehog

The easiest night animal in Britain to bring to your own doorstep. Hedgehogs come out after dark to hoover up beetles, worms and other invertebrates, and they travel around a mile a night through parks and yards in search of food and a mate. Listen before you look: a hedgehog shuffling through dry leaves carries on a still night. A gap of 13 cm by 13 cm at the base of a fence is enough for any hedgehog to pass between yards while keeping nearly all pets out, and a shallow dish of water helps on dry summer nights. Watch from a dark window or a seat outside, and let it go about its business rather than picking it up.