Here are some things about Hedgehogs you may not know

 

Hedgehogs are fascinating creatures, known for their spiny backs and their annual winter slumber. Here are some key facts about their diet and hibernation.

 

Hedgehog Diet (What They Eat)

 

Hedgehogs are primarily insectivores and nocturnal foragers, using their keen sense of smell and hearing to find prey.Their natural diet is diverse and high in protein:

 

  • Main Natural Foods:
  • Beetles and their larvae (grubs)
  • Caterpillars
  • Earthworms
  • Earwigs
  • Millipedes
  • They are also opportunistic and may occasionally eat snails, slugs (though not their preferred food), frogs, bird eggs, carrion, and fallen fruit.

 

Safe Supplementary Foods (to offer in a garden):

 

  • Meat-based wet dog or cat food (non-fish flavour)
  • Plain kitten biscuits or cat biscuits
  • Specialist hedgehog food
  • Always provide a shallow dish of fresh water.

 

Foods to Avoid:

 

  • Milk: Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, and it can cause severe stomach upset, or even be fatal.
  • Bread: It offers very little nutritional value and can make them ill.
  • Mealworms and peanuts (in large quantities): While they will eat them, they can cause health issues, particularly bone problems, when consumed in excess.

 

Hedgehog Hibernation

 

Hibernation is a critical survival strategy for hedgehogs in colder climates, allowing them to survive when their primary food sources (insects) are scarce.

 

Why They Hibernate - To conserve energy during the winter months when food is hard to find and temperatures are low.

 

When They Hibernate - Typically from October/November through to March/April, but the timing is heavily dependent on weather conditions and their individual fat reserves.

 

The Process - They enter a state called torpor, which is not a deep sleep. Their bodily functions slow dramatically:
 

  • Their body temperature drops from a normal ∼35∘C to as low as 10∘C or less.
  • Their heart rate decreases significantly, from a normal ∼190 beats per minute to only about 20 beats per minute.

 

Duration - The length is not fixed. It can last for several months, but they are known to wake up periodically (known as an "arousal") for a day or two to forage for food, relocate their nest, or go to the toilet.

 

Winter Home - They build a nest called a hibernaculum (often from dry leaves, grass, and twigs) in a safe, quiet, and sheltered spot, such as under log piles, in compost heaps, under sheds, or in dense hedgerows.

 

Preparation - In autumn, they must eat as much as possible to build up crucial fat reserves. To survive the winter, an adult hedgehog generally needs to weigh at least 500–700 grams (or a minimum of 450 grams for late-born young).

 

Emergence - They emerge from hibernation in the spring, often having lost up to a third of their body weight. They are extremely hungry and need to start foraging immediately to rebuild their strength.