Hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus
Quick answer
The European hedgehog is a small, spiny, nocturnal mammal famous for rolling into a tight ball of quills when threatened. A single hedgehog may carry around 5,000 spines, forages for insects and worms at night, and hibernates through winter. Wild hedgehogs typically live 2 to 5 years and are now listed as Near Threatened.
Hedgehog facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Erinaceus europaeus |
|---|---|
| Diet | Insectivore |
| Habitat | Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens |
| Lifespan | 2–5 years in the wild |
| Weight | 0.6–1.2 kg (1.3–2.6 lb) |
| Top speed | Up to 9 km/h (6 mph) |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened (IUCN) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Eulipotyphla |
| Family | Erinaceidae |
| Genus | Erinaceus |
What is a group of hedgehogs called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Hedgehogs is called an array.
Baby name
A baby Hedgehog is called a hoglet. It may also be called a piglet.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Spines and defense
A hedgehog's back is covered in around 5,000 stiff, hollow spines made of keratin, the same material as hair. When threatened it rolls into a tight ball, tucking its soft face, belly, and legs inside a protective sphere of quills that deters most predators.
Diet and foraging
Hedgehogs are insectivores that snuffle through leaf litter at night for beetles, worms, caterpillars, and slugs, which makes them a gardener's friend. They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and hearing to locate prey in the dark.
Hibernation
In cooler regions hedgehogs hibernate through winter, building a nest of leaves called a hibernaculum and dropping their body temperature to survive on stored fat. They may wake and move nests during mild spells, so a hedgehog seen in deep winter is not necessarily in trouble.
Conservation
European hedgehogs were reclassified as Near Threatened as populations decline across much of their range. Roads, habitat loss, pesticides that reduce insect food, and tidy, fenced gardens all play a part. Leaving wild corners, gaps in fences, and shallow water helps hedgehogs thrive.
Dig deeper into the Hedgehog
- Hedgehog Guide 4
Dig deeper into hedgehog — hedgehog guide 4.
- Hedgehog Guide 5
Dig deeper into hedgehog — hedgehog guide 5.
- How Long do Hedgehog Live?
Dig deeper into hedgehog — how long do hedgehog live.
- What do Hedgehog Eat
Dig deeper into hedgehog — what do hedgehog eat.
- Where do Hedgehog Live?
Dig deeper into hedgehog — where do hedgehog live.
Explore the Hedgehog
Collections
Range & geography
Did you know? Hedgehog facts
- The European hedgehog is a small, spiny, nocturnal mammal famous for rolling into a tight ball of quills when threatened.
- An adult hedgehog has roughly 5,000 to 7,000 spines. The spines are hollow, made of keratin, and are not barbed or poisonous, unlike a porcupine's quills.
- Hedgehogs are insectivores. They eat beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, slugs, and other invertebrates, which is why they are valued as natural pest controllers in gardens.
- European hedgehogs hibernate through winter in cooler climates, surviving on body fat in a nest of leaves. They may briefly wake to move during mild weather. Hedgehogs in warm regions may not hibernate at all.
- Hedgehog numbers have fallen due to habitat loss, busy roads, pesticide use that reduces their insect food, and gardens sealed off by solid fences. They are now listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
- Conservation: Near Threatened (IUCN).
Diet & feeding
Hedgehog feeds primarily as a insectivore. A hedgehog's back is covered in around 5,000 stiff, hollow spines made of keratin, the same material as hair. When threatened it rolls into a tight ball, tucking its soft face, belly, and legs inside a protective sphere of quills that deters most predators.
Adaptations
- A hedgehog's back is covered in around 5,000 stiff, hollow spines made of keratin, the same material as hair. When threatened it rolls into a tight ball, tucking its soft face, belly, and legs inside a protective sphere of quills that deters most predators.
- Hedgehogs are insectivores that snuffle through leaf litter at night for beetles, worms, caterpillars, and slugs, which makes them a gardener's friend. They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and hearing to locate prey in the dark.
Behaviour & ecology
- A hedgehog's back is covered in around 5,000 stiff, hollow spines made of keratin, the same material as hair. When threatened it rolls into a tight ball, tucking its soft face, belly, and legs inside a protective sphere of quills that deters most predators.
- Hedgehogs are insectivores that snuffle through leaf litter at night for beetles, worms, caterpillars, and slugs, which makes them a gardener's friend. They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and hearing to locate prey in the dark.
- In cooler regions hedgehogs hibernate through winter, building a nest of leaves called a hibernaculum and dropping their body temperature to survive on stored fat. They may wake and move nests during mild spells, so a hedgehog seen in deep winter is not necessarily in trouble.
Communication
- Hedgehog uses scent, posture, and vocal signals to mark territory and coordinate social behaviour.
- Communication intensity often peaks during breeding seasons and territorial disputes.
Habitat & range
Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens
Ecological role
Hedgehog plays a recognised ecological role in hedgerows, woodland, and gardens.
Conservation status of the Hedgehog
Near Threatened (NT) means a species does not yet qualify as threatened but is close to it, or likely to become so in the near future without ongoing conservation. It is a watch-list category just below Vulnerable.
The hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is assessed on the IUCN Red List. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Hedgehog
How many spines does a hedgehog have?
An adult hedgehog has roughly 5,000 to 7,000 spines. The spines are hollow, made of keratin, and are not barbed or poisonous, unlike a porcupine's quills.
What do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs are insectivores. They eat beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, slugs, and other invertebrates, which is why they are valued as natural pest controllers in gardens.
Do hedgehogs hibernate?
European hedgehogs hibernate through winter in cooler climates, surviving on body fat in a nest of leaves. They may briefly wake to move during mild weather. Hedgehogs in warm regions may not hibernate at all.
Why are hedgehogs in decline?
Hedgehog numbers have fallen due to habitat loss, busy roads, pesticide use that reduces their insect food, and gardens sealed off by solid fences. They are now listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
How can I help hedgehogs in my garden?
Leave a wild, leafy corner, cut a small gap in fences so hedgehogs can roam, avoid slug pellets and pesticides, provide a shallow dish of water, and check long grass before mowing.
What is a group of hedgehogs called?
A group of Hedgehogs is called an array.
What is a baby hedgehog called?
A baby Hedgehog is called a hoglet. It may also be called a piglet.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Hedgehog:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Near Threatened) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Erinaceus europaeus.
- IUCN Red List — Erinaceus europaeus.
Conservation status (Near Threatened) and population trends.
- Animal Diversity Web — Erinaceus europaeus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Life history, morphology, and range.
- Wikipedia — Hedgehog.
General taxonomy and overview (cross-check primary sources).
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How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.
