European Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
The adult European hedgehog lives in hedgerows, gardens, woodland edges, parks, and farmland margins where dense cover and leaf litter provide shelter. It is mostly nocturnal, snuffling through vegetation for beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs, and other small prey. When threatened, it curls into a tight ball so its spines face outward while the head and belly are protected. A notable seasonal behavior is hibernation, during which body temperature and activity drop sharply through cold months.
- Type
- Shell
- Conservation status
- NT
Growth chain
- European Hedgehog Hoglet
- European Hedgehog