Details
Erinaceus europaeus
The European hedgehog is a small mammal protected by a coat of spines. At night it wanders gardens, hedgerows, and woodland edges in search of varied food.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It inhabits Palearctic woodland, grassland, gardens, and parks. Hedges, leaf litter, and low vegetation provide foraging routes, shelter, and winter nests.
Length 20-30 cm; weight 400 g-1.2 kg. Short stiff spines cover the back, while the underside is furred. Short legs and a pointed snout suit ground-level searching.
Nocturnal and solitary, it travels widely after dark. When threatened it curls into a tight ball with spines facing outward.
An omnivore, it eats insects, earthworms, slugs, fruit, and small animals. Smell guides it through leaves and grass.
Females rear litters in nests of grass and leaves. Young are born with soft spines that harden as they grow.
It is listed as Least Concern. Roads, pesticides, and loss of rough shelter can still affect local populations.
