Where does the European hedgehog live?
The European hedgehog lives in Europe, from Iberia and Italy north into Scandinavia and west into Ireland, and as far as European Russia, Turkey and the Caucasus. It is a generally common species that survives across a wide range of habitat types. It was introduced to New Zealand in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, where it has become invasive.
What does the European hedgehog eat?
The hedgehog is omnivorous and largely nocturnal. It is a favourite in European gardens, for its endearing appearance and its liking for eating a range of garden pests. It may hibernate in winter. It has an almost vestigial tail, typically 20 to 30 mm. Adults typically weigh around 800 g in summer on average, and over 1,100 g in autumn.
Is the European hedgehog endangered?
Yes: the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened. Populations are stable across much of its range, but it is declining severely in Great Britain, where it is Red Listed, meaning at risk of local extinction. In Europe it is a species protected by the Bern Convention.
