European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

T🦔 European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

The European hedgehog is a small, nocturnal mammal best known for its spiny coat and its habit of rolling into a tight, protective ball when threatened. Loved by gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts alike, it plays a crucial role in controlling insect populations and maintaining ecological balance.

🔍 Identification

• Size: 20–30 cm (8–12 in) in length
• Weight: 400–1200 g (can vary with season)
• Lifespan: 3–7 years in the wild
• Appearance:
  • Covered in 5,000–7,000 stiff brown and white spines on the back
  • Soft, fur-covered underbelly
  • Small black eyes, pointy snout, and rounded ears

🌍 Distribution & Habitat

• Found across Europe: from Iberia to western Russia and Scandinavia
• Habitats:
  • Woodlands, meadows, hedgerows
  • Gardens, parks, and farmlands
• Thrives in suburban and rural areas with plenty of undergrowth and shelter

🌙 Behavior & Lifestyle

• Nocturnal: Active at night; spends the day sleeping in nests of leaves or under hedges
• Solitary except during mating season
• Hibernates during winter (typically from October to March/April depending on the climate)
• Can travel 2 km or more per night in search of food

🍽️ Diet

• Insectivore/omnivore:
  • Beetles, worms, slugs, snails, caterpillars, spiders
  • Occasionally eats frogs, small rodents, bird eggs, fallen fruit
• Helpful in gardens by controlling pest populations

🐣 Breeding

• Mating season: April to September
• Gestation: ~35 days
• Litter size: 4–7 hoglets
• Young are born blind and spineless; spines appear within hours
• Weaned at around 4–6 weeks

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

• IUCN Status: Vulnerable in some regions due to population declines
• Major threats:
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Road traffic
  • Pesticide use (reducing insect prey)
  • Garden hazards (e.g., strimmers, slug pellets, netting)

🏡 How You Can Help

• Create hedgehog highways (small holes in fences)
• Avoid pesticides and slug pellets
• Provide leaf piles or log piles for shelter
• Leave out fresh water and wet cat/dog food (no milk or bread!)

🌟 Fun Facts

• Despite their spines, they are not related to porcupines
• Can curl into a tight ball using powerful back muscles, making the spines an effective armor
• Their sense of smell and hearing is excellent, but their eyesight is poor
• Known to perform “self-anointing” — foaming at the mouth and smearing saliva on their spines (purpose still debated)

🧭 Summary

The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is a beloved wild visitor to gardens and countryside alike. With its distinctive spines and endearing behavior, it’s both an ecological ally and a cultural icon. But with modern challenges putting pressure on their survival, hedgehogs need our help to thrive in the wild spaces we share.

« ‹ of 2 › »

Views: 713