We've more information about how to help hedgehogs in your garden. The Hedgehog Street campaign run by the People's Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society has a great range of resources for people who want to help hedgehogs. Garden hazards such as netting and ponds cause further casualties as hedgehogs can easily become trapped in them and starve, dehydrate or drown. There are a variety of factors contributing to this decline, including the destruction of their habitats, increasing road traffic, and the use of pesticides which makes it harder for them to find food. Sadly, hedgehog populations are thought to be falling rapidly, particularly in rural areas. They're now considered vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain. The nest they build to hibernate in is called a hibernaculum, which helps to keep them warm when their body temperature drops during hibernation. Hedgehogs will often wake up from hibernation and forage for food or move their nest site at least once, before they go back to sleep. The exact timings will depend on the weather and in mild years, hedgehogs have been active as late as December. Hibernation usually takes place between November and mid-March. They'll start leaving the nest to forage with their mother around four weeks old and will be independent by about eight weeks old.įound a baby hedgehog? When hedgehogs hibernate Hoglets are born blind and deaf, and their spines are pure white when they first appear soon after birth. Litters usually consist of around four or five hoglets, born between June and July with some second litters born in September. Both male and female hedgehogs can mate several times a year with multiple partners. Hedgehogs will breed any time between April and September, but mostly during May and June. Occasionally they may eat amphibians, small rodents and birds that are already dead, slugs and snails, birds’ eggs and even fruit. Hedgehogs are mostly insectivorous, so will prey on beetles, caterpillars and earthworms. They're most active at night and rest during the day in nests made of vegetation, such as leaves, twigs, and grasses. Individual hedgehogs can travel as far as one or two miles in one night! They live in a range of habitats such as farmland, woodland and urban areas, where they're a favourite with gardeners. Hedgehogs are widespread throughout England and Wales. They're also the species that are most often admitted to our specialist wildlife rehabilitation centres. The European hedgehog is one of around 16 different species found throughout the world. Hedgehogs are one of Britain's most recognisable and well-loved wild animals.
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