Home › Mammalia › Erinaceidae › Western Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Western Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
Erinaceus
IUCN STATUS
Near Threatened
CONSERVATION STATUS
Near Threatened
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Western & Central Europe, British Isles, introduced NZ
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Gardens, hedgerows, woodland, grassland
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Eulipotyphla
FAMILY
Erinaceidae
GENUS
Erinaceus
📋 Description
SIZE
20-30 cm body + 2-3 cm tail, 500-1600 g
COLORATION
Brown spines with white tips, dark face/legs, pale belly
ADAPTATIONS
Defensive spines (up to 6000), curls into ball, excellent smell/hearing
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Gardens, hedgerows, woodland, grassland
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Western & Central Europe, British Isles, introduced NZ
REPRODUCTION
4-6 hoglets after 31-35 days gestation (May-Jul)
DIET DETAILS
Earthworms, slugs, beetles, snails
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Roadkill, pesticides, habitat loss, badgers
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Western hedgehogs hibernate from November to March, dropping their body temperature to just above freezing and surviving entirely on stored fat. Every active night they eat around 100 g of food — roughly their own body weight in earthworms, slugs and beetles. Their 6,000 spines are modified hairs that regrow if lost, giving excellent recovery after predator attacks.
2
They are one of Europe’s most recognisable mammals, yet populations have fallen sharply in the UK. Gardeners love them because one hedgehog can eat 200 slugs in a single night.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
New Forest National Park UK
Peak District National Park UK
Richmond Park London UK
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Listen for snuffling at night or look for rolled-up balls under hedges/bushes.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
May-Oct (nocturnal, peak activity dusk-dawn)
