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One of our Sponsors...Hedgehog Fact file
The hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is considered to be Britain's best loved mammal, no-one seems to have any cause for argument with these spiny garden dwellers.
Appearance:
- Length between 20-30cm
- 3-5,000 brown/grey spines covering top side of body.
- Underside of body soft grey fur.
- Small beady eyes, small, but visible ears.
- Black, rubbery nose – smell is the primary sense
- Feet have 5 toes front & back with long claws
Diet:
- Insectivores – main diet of slugs, beetles, worms & caterpillars
- Captive diet – cat food or puppy food & eggs, no bread & milk!
- Hedgehogs hibernate from November to February/March due to lack of food source.
Breeding:
- 2 litters per year, June-July & September-October.
- Litter size =1-8, average 4 or 5 babies.
- Babies are born spineless, but develop soft white spines within an hour of birth, brown spines appear within a few days.
- Hoglets are born blind, eyes open after 2 weeks.
- Weaning after 3-4 weeks – following mother on foraging trips.
- Dispersal of family from 6-8 weeks.
Characteristics:
- The only Spiny mammal in the UK.
- Adult hedgehogs are solitary.
- Hedgehogs are nocturnal.
- Protection through the ability to conceal all soft body parts through rolling up into a tight prickly ball. This art of self defence is mastered by a circular muscle that, when contracted, closes like a drawstring bag.
- Famously accused of heavy loads of flea's & ticks – hedgehog fleas are 'host specific' so only live on hedgehogs. Like most wildlife, hedgehogs live with fleas without a problem.
'The Hedgehog's Year'
JANUARY holds nothing in store, except warmth, dreams and a gentle snore,
FEBRUARY and all the reserves are gone, yet the silent slumber lingers on,
MARCH brings life to the undergrowth, the one which insects fear the most,
APRIL and all hedgehogs awaken, that cosy nest is now forsaken,
MAY hedgehogs mate by the light of the moon, the pregnant females awaiting June,
JUNE and out the babies come, all united with their Mum,
JULY mother and babies venture from the nest together, because it is such lovely weather,
AUGUST is when they leave their home, out to the wide world alone,
SEPTEMBER is when the late litters are born, orphans are sure to turn up on your lawn,
OCTOBER is when winter nests are constructed and juicy morsels are collected,
NOVEMBER is when hibernation begins, most hedgehogs now bed down until spring,
DECEMBER is when all are hibernating, yet they are occasionally awakening.
c/o Hedgehog Preservation Society
You can help... CLICK HERE to learn more about Hedgehog Adoption
