WEST EUROPEAN HEDGEHOG

Erinaceus Europaeus

Key Facts:

Colour: Varying in dark brown / white

Adult Size: Up to 20-30cm in height

Lifespan: 2-3 years (average)

Where: Common in areas abundant of hedges and bushes, such as gardens, parks and woodlands

Description

Hedgehog’s are the UK’s only spiny mammal, with thousands of spines found along their back. They have furry brown faces with a black nose and eyes and a speckled brown and cream back.

Habitat

Hedgehogs are attracted to areas where food is readily available and prefer to live in woodland edges, hedgerows and suburban habitats. They are commonly found in gardens, parks and farmland across the UK.

Lifecycle

The life cycle of a hedgehog revolves around the winter hibernation period. They breed from April to September, but offspring born later in the year are less likely to reach the necessary weight to survive hibernation. Litters consist of four or five hoglets (a baby hedgehog) and are raised alone by their mothers.

The hibernation period of a hedgehog begins around November until April, depending on the weather. Therefore they are more likely to be seen in spring and summer.

The spiny mammals are nocturnal, and can travel around one to two kilometres per night, using the same daytime nest for a few days before moving on.

by Ashley Amboy