Are Hedgehogs Still Found in the Wild?

Most definitely! Hedgehogs can be found in Asia, Africa, Europe and Great Britain as well as areas that they were introduced to for pest control – such as New Zealand and the islands of Scotland. There are about fourteen species and four genera of hedgehogs. Between different species, sizes can range from one to four pounds.

All hedgehogs share common features such as pointed noses, small eyes, short limbs, five toes, soft underbellies, and quill covered back and sides. Hedgehogs can be found in wooded areas, mountains, parks, gardens, and deserts. In the wild hedgehogs would be solitary creatures, seldom interacting with each other except to breed.

During the day you would be most likely to find a hedgehog asleep hidden away in his burrow, which can be a hole dug in the ground or a comfy nest of leaves under a shrub. In the evening a hedgehog will emerge ready to look for food. Hedgehogs are happy to eat a diet of insects but will eat other foods like fruit, roots, small rodents, reptiles, bird eggs, snails…really, there’s no limit to what a hedgehog will try!

Hedgehogs are known for their ability to hibernate in times when food is likely to be scare such as during winter or the driest part of summer (in the case of hedgehogs native to Africa.)

When calm and happy a hedgehog's quills will lie flat, pointing towards his or her tail. If frightened or surprised a hedgehog will quickly roll into a ball and the quills will stand up all over. Most predators are deterred by the hedgehog's quills ‐ all except, the automobile which is now responsible for killing large numbers of hedgehogs every year.