The European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Common hedgehog or just Hedgehog in the Anglophone parts of Europe, is a hedgehog species found in northern and western Europe. It is about 20 to 30 cm in length. Adult mass typically ranges from 600 (after hibernation) to up to 1,200 g (prior to hibernation); occasionally, it may reach as much as 1,600 g. Males tend to be slightly longer and heavier than females.
The European Hedgehog lives in woodland, farmland and suburban areas. It is nocturnal, and if alarmed will roll itself into a ball, protecting itself against potential predators with its spines.
European Hedgehog like slugs, earthworms, beetles and other insects. The preferred arthropods are the millipedes Glomeris marginata and Tachypodoiulus niger as well as the ground beetle Carabus nemoralis. It is also known to eat frogs, small rodents, young birds and birds' eggs.
This species has become a serious pest in the Western Isles of Scotland, where introduced hedgehogs eat the eggs of ground-nesting waders such as Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing. It is also considered a pest in New Zealand where it preys upon the native giant snails (Powelliphanta), weta, and various other native invertebrates.
Blonde hedgehogs have a rare recessive gene giving rise to beady, button-black eyes and creamy-coloured spines; they are not strictly speaking albino. They are extremely rare except on the Channel Island of Alderney. A population of around a thousand is believed to exist. They allegedly carry no fleas, and are a localised island variant of Erinaceus europaeus.
European Hedgehog Life span
Approximately five years.
European Hedgehog Size
Body length: 15-30 cm, Weight: 1.5-2 kg.
European Hedgehog Reproduction
Females rear the young exclusively. Males and females only meet briefly during the breeding season. Females produce one or two litters a year. Gestation period is 35 days. Litter size varies, but 4-5 is the average. The pups are weaned at five to six weeks.
European Hedgehog Diet
Hedgehogs have a mainly insectivorous diet consisting of slugs, snails, earthworms, beetles and earwigs with them preferring one food type over another through the year. They have also been known to eat frogs and mice as well as eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds.
European Hedgehog Distribution
European hedgehogs range across Western Europe, including Britain, from Scandinavia to Romania. They were introduced to New Zealand in the 19th century.
European Hedgehog Behaviour
Hedgehogs are mainly solitary animals and are nocturnal by nature, but are most active in the evenings and mornings and after fresh rainfalls. They can travel up to 2-4 km per night while foraging for food.
By day, hedgehogs seek shelter in temporary nests of leaves, twigs and grass, venturing out at dusk in search of food. As the summer progresses, hedgehogs put on weight in preparation for hibernation in October. Hibernation nests (hibernacula) are typically situated in leaf piles or under hedgerows.
During hibernation the body temperature drops to as low as 4 degrees Celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit) and the heart rate drops dramatically, from 190 to about 20 beats per minute. Mortality is high during the hibernation period. By March or April the hedgehogs come out of hibernation.
European Hedgehog Conservation status
Hedgehogs are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in Britain, and may not be trapped without a licence. They are not considered to be endangered, although their numbers are in decline due to habitat loss.
Protection listOn 28 August 2007, the new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) [launched in 1997] included the European Hedgehog on the list of species and habitats in the UK that need conservation and greater protection.
In Denmark, hedgehogs are protected by law. It is illegal to capture or hurt them, but it is accepted to house underweight hedgehogs found out during winter. Garden owners are encouraged to attract hedgehogs with a bit of dry cat food, to utilize their pest control abilities.
European Hedgehog, which has recently been put on the list of endangered species. This means that by 2020 (less than 20 years away) the European Hedgehog could be extinct. We need to do something now before it is too late, this amazing creature will soon be gone.
Mon Aug 20, 2012 5:52 pm
