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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchHedgehogs are nocturnal mammals with thousands of spines, a taste for insects and a surprisingly wide nightly range. These ten facts focus mainly on the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), especially where behavior and conservation figures are specific to the UK or Europe.
1. How far does a hedgehog travel at night?
European hedgehogs are nocturnal, and the Natural History Museum says they may travel about one to two kilometres in a night. They can also use a daytime nest for only a few days before moving to another. A hedgehog seen in one spot may therefore be only a brief visitor.
2. A hedgehog’s spines are modified hairs
The spines on a European hedgehog’s back and sides are modified hairs. WWF UK describes them as about 25 millimetres long and estimates an average adult has roughly 5,000 to 7,000. The count and length are approximate figures, not a guarantee for every individual.
3. They curl into a defensive ball
When threatened, a hedgehog can curl up and present its spines outward. This defensive posture helps protect its more vulnerable underside, but it is not an absolute shield against every predator or human-made danger.
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4. What do hedgehogs eat?
European hedgehogs eat a varied diet, with invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars and earthworms among their typical foods. Slugs may be eaten too, but hedgehogs are not dedicated slug-control animals, and their presence will not reliably solve a garden slug problem.
5. European hedgehogs hibernate, but not on a fixed schedule
European hedgehogs hibernate, lowering their body temperature and heart rate to conserve energy. The Wildlife Trusts describes hibernation as typically occurring around November to April, but the Natural History Museum notes that timing depends on weather. Those months are an approximate pattern, not fixed dates for every animal or year.
6. They make nests in sheltered places
European hedgehogs build nests for resting and shelter, often using leafy cover in places such as hedges or log piles. A garden hedgehog house is another possible sheltered spot; the Natural History Museum suggests filling one with dried leaves and grass. Providing a house may offer habitat, but does not guarantee a hedgehog will use it.
7. Small garden openings can help connect habitat
Because European hedgehogs range over substantial distances at night, isolated patches of habitat can limit their movement. The Natural History Museum identifies roads, walls and close-board fences as fragmentation pressures and notes that a small opening in a garden boundary can help connect habitat. A gap is most useful when it links to other safe, suitable areas rather than ending at another barrier.
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8. How long do hedgehogs live?
For European hedgehogs in the wild, the Natural History Museum gives an average lifespan of two to three years and a maximum life expectancy of ten years. The average and maximum describe different outcomes: the maximum is not a typical lifespan.
9. Hedgehogs are found across three continents
Hedgehog is a common name for a group of species, not just the European hedgehog. WWF UK’s broad overview counts 17 species across Europe, Africa and Asia. Their habitats and behaviors vary, so facts about European hedgehogs should not automatically be applied to every species.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.10. UK hedgehog decline estimates depend on place and measure
WWF UK reported that hedgehog numbers could have fallen by more than half in rural areas and by a third in urban areas of the UK since 2000. Its page was last reviewed on 19 October 2023, and the figures are attributed estimates—not a new, current census. They point to a concern about population trends, but should be read with their geography, timeframe and uncertainty attached.
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