The European hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal familiar in gardens across Europe. It is a valued insect-eater, but it is declining because of habitat loss, roads and intensive farming.
Interesting facts
- Hedgehogs hibernate from about November to March.
- They sometimes ‘self-anoint’, covering their spines with frothy saliva for reasons still unclear.
- Hedgehogs can travel a kilometre or more in a night looking for food.
- Cutting 13 cm holes in garden fences creates ‘hedgehog highways’ between gardens.
- Hedgehog numbers in Britain have fallen sharply since 2000.
- Their spines are hollow hairs made of keratin.
Behaviour
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and solitary. They snuffle through leaf litter and grass, finding food by smell. They make nests of leaves for resting and hibernating.
Breeding and young
After about five weeks, females give birth to four to five hoglets, whose spines are soft at birth. The young leave their mother after about six weeks.
Threats and conservation
Road deaths, loss of hedgerows and grassland, pesticides, garden hazards such as strimmers and netting, and predation by badgers.
Where to see it
- Gardens and parks across Britain and Europe at night
- Hedgehog-friendly gardens with shallow water and feeding stations
- Wildlife hospitals and rescue centres
- Leave wild corners and log piles to help them
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
