Living with Birds 21 Facts on Hedgehogs Tweetapedia

21 Wildlife Facts on Hedgehogs

May 7th, 2024
4 minute read
British hedgehog in autumn leaves
British hedgehog in autumn leaves British hedgehog in autumn leaves
  1. Rapid decline - In 1950 the British population was estimated at over 30 million but today is believed to have plummeted to fewer than 1 million. However, estimating the population is extremely difficult and there is no evidence that the population was once so high.
  2. Self defence mode - When threatened by a predator, a hedgehog rolls up into a prickly ball. The spines do a fine job of protecting them from most predators, including stoats and foxes, but not from badgers. 
  3. Safe travels - Rolling into a ball makes hedgehogs vulnerable to being run over by cars but how much this affects the population is debatable. Where hedgehogs have been individually marked, the percentage found killed on roads is typically between 1% and 4% which is statistically insignificant. A typical adult hedgehog will have around 5,000 spines but a particularly large individual may have as many as 7,500.
  4. Prickles a plenty - A typical adult hedgehog will have around 5,000 spines but a particularly large individual may have as many as 7,500.
  5. The deep sleep - Hedgehogs are poorly insulated so hibernation is essential for surviving winter. Most go into hibernation in November and don't become active again until late March or early April.
  6. Out late - If the late autumn is mild, and there is plenty of food about, some hedgehogs will remain active until well into December. 
  7. Intrepid explorers - Hedgehogs have been introduced to many of Britain's offshore islands, from Scilly to the Shetlands. Their introduction to Uist in the Outer Hebrides was an environmental catastrophe because they had a disastrous impact on ground-nesting birds. 
  8. Common knowledge - Our familiar hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus, is a native of mainland Britain along with much of western Europe and parts of Scandinavia. In eastern Europe it is replaced by the very similar eastern hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor. Hedgehogs are carnivorous with favourite foods being beetles, caterpillars and earthworms. They also eat slugs and snails, earwigs, millipedes, birds' eggs and anything else that takes their fancy.
  9. Evening menu - Hedgehogs are carnivorous with favourite foods being beetles, caterpillars and earthworms. They also eat slugs and snails, earwigs, millipedes, birds' eggs and anything else that takes their fancy. 
  10. Long haul - Hedgehogs were first introduced to New Zealand in 1885; today they are widespread on both North and South Islands and more abundant than in the British Isles. 
  11. By any other name - An old country name is urchin, while furzepig and hedgepig were also once used. Shakespeare reffered to urchins and hedgepigs in The Tempest and A Midsummer Night's Dream. 
  12. Fresh laundry - The best-known hedgehog in literature is Mrs Tiggywinkle created in 1901 in a bedtime story by Beatrix Potter.  Hedgehogs eat the eggs of ground nesting birds. In the past this led to persecution by gamekeepers; one East Anglian estate is known to have killed 20,000 in the early years of the 20th century.
  13. Stop, thief! - Hedgehogs eat the eggs of ground nesting birds. In the past this led to persecution by gamekeepers; one East Anglian estate is known to have killed 20,000 in the early years of the 20th century.
  14. Work up an apetite - Hedgehogs soon learn to visit garden feeding stations. Research has shown that individual animals will travel as far as 500 metres to come to food.
  15. Follow the scent - Their eyesight is poor but their sense of smell is acute and their ears very sensitive. 
  16. Summer loving - Hedgehogs mate in May and give birth to a litter of four or five hoglets in June or July.
  17. New arrivals - Hoglets are born blind. Their spines are covered by skin and look like small pimples. The hoglet's first spines are white but brown spines soon start to grow; by 15 days the white spines are virtually invisible. 
  18. Colour change - The hoglet's first spines are white but brown spines soon start to grow; by 15 days the white spines are virtually invisible. 
  19. The adventure begins - They leave the nest at three or four weeks old and start to accompany their mother on foraging expeditions.
  20. A Mother's love - Young hedgehogs never meet their father: he plays no part in rearing them.
  21. Short lived - The average lifespan is just two years but a few individuals may reach six or seven and the odd one even ten. 

Join the thousands of bird feeding enthusiasts who
get free offers and exclusive articles from Living with Birds.

tweetapdeia image of bird food feeder species facts compiedtweetapdeia image of bird food feeder species facts compied
Unsubscribe anytime. We never share our list.

Thank you for your feedback

Money-off Vouchers
Money-off Vouchers

Money-off Vouchers

Our regular money-off vouchers and special offers are always warmly received.
Join our email list and look out for yours.

Unsubscribe anytime. We never share our list.

We’re here to help.

Contact us
Lwb icon FBLwb icon InstagramLwb icon WhatsappLwb icon Email
Mastercard Visa Paypal