A quintessential symbol of the British countryside and gardens across Europe. This creature, adorned with up to 6000 spines, navigates its habitat with a blend of caution and curiosity. The spines, which are essentially modified hairs made of keratin, are hollow and measure between 2 to 3 cm (0.8 to 1.2 inches) in length. These spines serve as the hedgehog’s primary defense mechanism, allowing it to roll into a tight ball and present a formidable barrier against predators. The European hedgehog’s tail is markedly short, almost vestigial, further emphasizing the spine’s role in its survival strategy.
The European hedgehog boasts a wide distribution, thriving in a variety of environments, including forests, farmlands, suburban gardens, and even urban parks. This adaptability has made them a familiar sight in many settings, contributing to their role in popular culture and the human imagination. Their diet is impressively diverse, encompassing a broad range of invertebrates such as beetles, ants, bees, wasps, earwigs, moths, and butterflies. This voracious appetite for garden pests has endeared the European hedgehog to many, highlighting its importance in natural pest control. Additionally, they consume bird eggs and amphibians, showcasing their opportunistic feeding habits.
A remarkable aspect of the European hedgehog’s life cycle is its hibernation behavior. As cold weather approaches, these creatures prepare for winter by building nests from leaves, often situated under sheds, log piles or dense vegetation. These nests serve as a refuge from the cold, where hedgehogs enter a state of hibernation, significantly reducing their metabolic rate to conserve energy during scarce food months. This adaptation is crucial for their survival through the winter, allowing them to emerge in the spring ready to continue their cycle of feeding and breeding.
Distribution
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Czechia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United KingdomAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
