We have had some questions recently about Hedgehogs, so here are some facts............

Hedgehogs have been around for millions of years.

They are nocturnal.

Britain's only spiny mammal.

An adult hedgehog can have between 5000-7000 spines.

The spines are made up of the same material as our hair.

The adults (Boars and Sows) live solitary lives only spending time together for mating, the female alone raises her young.

Females have one or two litters a year consisting of an average 3/5 babies (called hoglets).

The second litter is usually produced around August/September and sometimes even later in the year, the hoglets from these second litters will struggle to build up enough weight/fat reserves in time for winter and most of them will not survive.

Hedgehogs can cover up to two miles each night while out foraging for food.

Lots of people are surprised to hear that hedgehogs have tails.

They have an excellent sense of smell, their hearing is good but their eyesight is relatively poor.

The average lifespan is 5 or 6 years.

Hedgehogs will eat a wide variety of things including, beetles,insect larvae, caterpillars, birds eggs that have fallen from a nest, baby mice, froglets, carrion, earthworms, slugs, snails, the nuts and seeds that fall from bird tables, etc.

As winter approaches and the temperature begins to fall the hedgehogs natural food becomes scarce and so most hedgehogs will hibernate, there is no set time for hedgehogs to enter a state of hibernation, some will do it in October, some November or December and some even later, prior to hibernation Hedgehogs will have tried to eat as much food as possible in order to build up their fat reserves to see them over the long dark winter.

Do Hedgehogs have fleas?

Some have lots, some have a few and some have none however the fleas are host specific, in other words unless you are a hedgehog the fleas do not find you attractive, neither do they fancy living on your dog, cat or carpet. Please do not ever let the possibility of fleas on a hedgehog prevent you from helping a sick/injured hog.

NEVER USE FLEA TREATMENT INTENDED FOR CATS/DOGS ON A HEDGEHOG

HEDGEHOGS ARE LACTOSE INTOLERANT AND SHOULD NEVER BE GIVEN MILK, IT WILL MAKE THEM VERY ILL AND CAN EVEN BE FATAL, THEY SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN WATER TO DRINK!