West European Hedgehog

This guide was AI-drafted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) and reviewed before publishing.

Overview

The West European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is also known as the common hedgehog, and is native to a wide stretch of Europe - from Ireland and Iberia right up into Scandinavia. It is one of the most recognisable and well-loved wild animals in the UK, and a familiar face in many gardens.

Adults typically measure around 260 mm in length and can weigh anywhere from 500 g to over 1,100 g, with weight varying greatly by season. Their bodies are covered by up to 6,000 brown and white spines, and they have a very short tail that is almost vestigial. Males tend to be slightly larger than females.

While the species is stable across much of Europe, it is sadly declining severely in Great Britain, where it is now Red Listed - meaning it is considered at risk of local extinction. Current estimates suggest there may be fewer than a million hedgehogs left in Great Britain.

Temperament & behaviour

West European Hedgehogs are largely nocturnal creatures, so you are most likely to spot one snuffling around after dark. They have a hesitant, cautious way of moving - often stopping to smell the air as they go.

When threatened or alarmed, a hedgehog's instinct is to curl tightly into a ball, using its spines as a protective shield. This is their main defence against predators, and it works well against many animals.

Unlike some smaller hedgehog species, the West European Hedgehog can hibernate during winter. Most individuals do wake at least once during hibernation to move their nest. They build different types of nest depending on the season - breeding nests, summer day nests, and winter hibernation nests - often tucked under roots or branches for shelter.

Care basics

In the wild, hedgehogs are insectivores with a broad diet. They eat earthworms, snails, slugs, beetles, ants, caterpillars, and a wide range of other invertebrates. Plant matter makes up only a very small part of their natural diet.

Hedgehogs are most at home in gardens, parks, and areas close to human settlements, where food and nesting materials are plentiful. They thrive across a wide range of habitats but tend to be scarce in marshes and moorland, partly because suitable nesting sites are harder to find there.

If you are supporting hedgehogs in your garden, bear in mind their natural nocturnal habits and their need for safe, sheltered spots to nest - particularly somewhere snug and dry for the winter months.

Health awareness

Starvation is the most common cause of death in wild West European Hedgehogs, and it most often occurs during hibernation. This is worth keeping in mind if you ever find a hedgehog that seems underweight, especially heading into winter.

Hedgehogs can live to more than ten years of age, though the average life expectancy in the wild is around three years. Road traffic is a well-known hazard for this species, and hedgehog-friendly garden practices can make a real difference to local populations.

As with any animal, it is always a good idea to seek advice from a vet or a wildlife rescue organisation if you find a hedgehog that appears unwell, injured, or active during the day - daytime activity can sometimes be a sign that something is not quite right.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

Fun facts

The West European Hedgehog is thought to be the largest hedgehog species and possibly the heaviest member of its entire order - quite an impressive title for such a compact little animal.

Rare colour variations do occur. Leucistic or 'blonde' hedgehogs have creamy-coloured spines and black eyes, and while they are extremely rare in most places, around 25% of hedgehogs on North Ronaldsay and the Channel Island of Alderney are thought to be blonde.

Hedgehogs were taken to New Zealand on sailing ships from the 1860s onwards, originally as a biological control against garden pests or as pets. Those that survived the long voyage lost all their fleas along the way - and their descendants can still be found across New Zealand today.

Despite their small size, hedgehogs have even been spotted climbing glaciers in New Zealand - proof that these little animals are far more adventurous than they might look!

Source

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_hedgehog