A hedgehog snuffling around in the leaf litter

Hedgehog © Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

European hedgehog

These beloved spiny mammals come out at night to hoover up beetles, worms and other invertebrates.

Scientific name

Erinaceus europaeus

When to see

April to October

Species information

Statistics

Length: 15-30cm
Tail: 1-2cm
Weight: up to 2kg
Average lifespan: 2-3 years

Conservation status

Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
Red List for British Mammals: vulnerable to extinction.

Habitats

About

Round, brown and famously covered in spines, the hedgehog is one of the UK’s most familiar wild animals. These nocturnal mammals can be spotted in parks and gardens, where bushes provide the perfect daytime hiding place or nesting spot. They love long grass full of insects to feast on once the sun has set.

Hedgehogs eat all kinds of invertebrates, as well as amphibians, birds' eggs and just about anything else they can catch. They particularly like big, crunchy beetles and earthworms, making them a gardener's best friend.

Hedgehogs hibernate over winter, from about November to April. After spending the autumn feeding to build up their fat reserves, they curl up in a nest of leaves called a 'hibernaculum'. This is usually built in a sheltered spot, such as at the bottom of a hedge or in a log pile. They are one of the few mammals that truly hibernates, dropping both their body temperature and heart rate to save energy. They survive on their stored fat until spring, when it's time for them to become active again.

How to identify

A unique and unmistakeable animal, the hedgehog is small, brown and round, with yellow-tipped spines over its back and a fur-covered face. Highly nocturnal, you may see or hear one snuffling around the garden. Look out for the signs that a hedgehog has visited, such as medium-sized, black droppings full of insect bits on the lawn.

Distribution

Widespread, found throughout the country in a variety of habitats, though absent from some Scottish Islands. A large proportion of the hedgehogs on Alderney are blonde!

In our area

Hedgehogs were once common across Shropshire, but the population has declined by over 75% over the last 50 years. Their decline is attributed to a number of factors, including changing agricultural practice, use of lethal slug pellets and climate change. Hedgehogs can forage for food over a large distance and are often killed as they cross roads at night. because they move around so much, man-made barriers, such as concrete-based garden fences can greatly impact a hog's ability to travel in search of food and could be another factor in their decline in some areas.

The most likely places to see hedgehogs are now in parks and gardens rather than open countryside. We can all do our bit to help hedgehogs in our local area, including our gardens. Click on the links below to find out how you can help.

Make a hedgehog hole in your garden fence

Build a hedgehog home in your garden

Did you know?

Hedgehogs are known for their ability to roll themselves into a ball of spines when threatened. These spines are actually modified hairs and the average hedgehog has about 7,000 of them, which can be raised using powerful muscles along their back.