📷 Arbeiterreserve · CC BY-SA 3.0
📷 Gibe
📷 Hrald
IUCN: Least Concern
Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassMammalia›OrderEulipotyphla›FamilyErinaceidae›GenusErinaceus
About
Hedgehogs are small nocturnal mammals covered in about 5,000–7,000 spines that they erect and puff into a ball when threatened. They roam large territories each night, snuffling loudly as they root out beetles, caterpillars, and slugs, which makes them welcome guests in gardens. When they meet a strong smell they may 'self-anoint', licking the source and spreading frothy saliva onto their spines. Road traffic and habitat fragmentation are their main dangers, and numbers are falling in parts of western Europe.
Key Facts
⛰Habitat Woodland edges, hedgerows, grassland, parks, and gardens
🍃Diet Insectivore — beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs, and snails
📏Size & Weight Body 20–30 cm
•weight 0.5–2 kg
⏳Lifespan 2–5 years wild; up to 10 in care
🗺Range Western Europe from Iberia to Scandinavia, introduced to New Zealand
MammalInsectivore
Key Facts
⛰Habitat Woodland edges, hedgerows, grassland, parks, and gardens
🍃Diet Insectivore — beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs, and snails
📏Size & Weight Body 20–30 cm
•weight 0.5–2 kg
⏳Lifespan 2–5 years wild; up to 10 in care
🗺Range Western Europe from Iberia to Scandinavia, introduced to New Zealand
Photo Credits
#1Arbeiterreserve · CC BY-SA 3.0
#2Gibe · CC BY-SA 3.0
#3Hrald · CC BY-SA 3.0
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