Quick answer
Hedgehogs feed as Insectivore, adjusting with season, age, and local prey or plant availability.
Key takeaway
Hedgehogs feed as Insectivore, adjusting with season, age, and local prey or plant availability.
Diet overview
Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are best described as Insectivore. That label summarises preferred foods, not every item an individual might sample.
How they obtain food
Foraging and hunting strategies reflect anatomy and habitat. Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel.
Seasonal and life-stage shifts
Young hedgehogs often eat different foods or receive provisioned meals from parents. Adults may specialise regionally based on what is abundant.
Ecosystem role
As consumers in their food web, hedgehogs influence prey, vegetation, or nutrient cycling.
Human conflict
Do not feed wild hedgehogs. Habituation raises injury risk for people and animals and can lead to lethal management.
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.
Research notes
Figures for hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) come from field studies, museum records, and conservation assessments that do not always agree on exact averages. Prefer ranges over single-point claims, and check whether a source describes wild, captive, or mixed populations.
Practical takeaways
If you encounter hedgehogs in the wild, prioritise distance and local guidance. If you care for related domestic or captive animals, match diet and housing to species needs rather than generic pet advice. Share accurate status information (Near Threatened) when discussing conservation.
Sources
FAQs
What Do Hedgehogs Eat?
Hedgehogs feed as Insectivore, adjusting with season, age, and local prey or plant availability.
What is the scientific name of the hedgehog?
Erinaceus europaeus
What do hedgehogs eat?
Insectivore
Where do hedgehogs live?
Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens
Are hedgehogs endangered?
Listed here as Near Threatened. Check IUCN and national lists for the latest assessment.