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Hedgehogs are named after their pig-like
habit of rooting through the undergrowth for
food. They were introduced to the UK in the middle of the 19th century. This
was just
around the same time as red squirrels in England.
Hedgehogs are the only spiny mammal in
Britain. The upper parts of the head and body
are covered in short, yellow-tipped spines [adults] may have up to 5000
spines. The rest
of the Hedgehog - body is covered with brown fur, and the hedgehog has a short tail.
European hedgehogs [English Hedgehogs] will range across Europe.
Hedgehogs are ancient animal; they have
been around for about 15 million years.  They are noisy and can be heard snuffling
and make guttural sound during their activities.
Hedgehogs are solitary, non-territorial
animals.
Life span Up to five years.
Body length: 15-30 cm, Weight: 1.5-2 kg.
English Hedgehog... (Erinaceus europaeus).
Hedgehogs eyesight is poor, but their
sense of smell and hearing are brilliant. Hedgehogs
can swim and climb well. Their dense covering of spines offers protection when the
animal is disturbed, rolling up in a tight ball covering the head and soft underside.
Hedgehogs eat slugs, snails, beetles and
earthworms. They also sometimes feed on
eggs and chicks of ground-nesting birds.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal. Hedgehogs
are normally only out of their nests when it is dusk
or dark. During the summer when the nights are short, you will see Hedgehogs
in the
evening or early morning when it is light.
Hedgehogs fancy habitat is the forest, hedgerows, scrub and cultivated land.
During the winter hedgehogs go into
hibernation to save energy. Hedgehogs hibernating
nest is made of dry leaves and grass and it takes several days [nights] to make.
Their nest is built under low branches or some other low support. Their nest are water
and weatherproof. So inside temperature remains always constant, no matter how
cold
the weather is outside.
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