ANIMAL ESTATE client 8.04: HEDGEHOG
FOR ANIMAL ESTATE 8.0: LONDON
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Erinaceus europaeus
RANGE: The European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Common hedgehog or just Hedgehog in the Anglophone parts of Europe, is a hedgehog species found in northern and western Europe. This hedgehog is found in western and northern Europe and northern European Russia. Populations have expanded as far north as 66°N in Finland, and south to the northern coast of the Mediterranean. The eastern range is to about 40°E and overlaps with that of the East European hedgehog. In Britain and Ireland hedgehogs are found extensively, including on many islands. Hedgehogs are basically sedentary.
Hedgehogs have been introduced to many British islands and to New Zealand (in 1885), where they have been very successful. In some introduced areas they may represent a threat to native ground-nesting bird species by predation (particularly on eggs).
HABITAT: The European Hedgehog lives in woodland, hedgerows, farmland and suburban areas such as gardens and parks. Hedgehogs range through habitats up to 2,000m above sea level. They occupy a wide variety of habitats including: Farmland (where edge habitat may be preferred such as hedgerows), deciduous woodland, suburban gardens and urban parks. Appropriate habitats must contain sufficient invertebrate prey and nesting materials.
HOME CONSTRUCTION: Hedgehogs require nests throughout the year for concealment and for protection from the weather. Three different nests may be identified: day nests used during the summer when this nocturnal animal is sleeping, breeding nests used by sows and their litters, and winter nests or hibernacula. Winter nests are generally the most solid in construction and are generally constructed in concealing and supporting vegetation, where they will not be seen or disturbed.
BUILDING MATERIALS: Winter and breeding nests will typically use leaves, grass and moss to help keep the rain out and maintain an even temperature. Burrows or holes in the ground are sometimes also used. Often hedgehogs will simply seek long grass or a pile of vegetation such as composts which provide safety, shelter, warmth and a ready source of food.
BUILDING MOTIVATION: Composts make the perfect nest for a hedgehog as they provide all the things a hedgehog needs whether it is either resting or hibernating. Other types of nests, constructed or found, must also provide as many of these criteria as possible to be of interest to a hedgehog, because despite their spiky defences they, and especially their young, still need protection from predators
THREATS: On 28 August 2007, the new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) included the European Hedgehog on the list of species and habitats in the UK that need conservation and greater protection. Man-made threats to hedgehogs include: Cars, bonfires, garden forks, strimmers, steep sided ponds, cattle grids, litter, modern farming practices, over-tidying of parks (with associated loss of favourable edge habitat) and use of pesticides, particularly insecticides and molluscicides. While natural predators include: Badgers, foxes, cats, tawny owls, brown rats, wild boar, magpies, crows, otters and various species of small mustelid, including pine martens, polecats, mink, stoats and weasels.
MAKING A HEDGEHOG HOUSE:
Visit this site for some great ideas and see below for an extract describing some simple DIY options...
Suggested designs for hedgehog nesting boxes include:
-"A plastic pot with its bottom removed tied onto a large plastic bin bag".
- Breeze blocks covered with a paving slab roof.
- Plastic swing bin laying on its side.
- Inverted pet basket.
- Rigid wooden boxes made from timber (e.g. 100 x 12 sawn strip or ply) with a removable lid covered with roofing felt.
- Strong cardboard box with ventilation holes (15 x 5 centimetres) and an entrance (15 cm diameter) covered with nesting material (grass, straw, dead leaves) and finally a waterproof plastic cover.
- Inverted milk crate with an entrance hole (14 cm diameter).
- A fairly permanent construction made of wood or brick is recommended by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society with a central chamber, narrow entrance tunnel, insulating layer of soil and leaf litter covered by polythene sheeting.
- A 12 inch (30 cm) cube, with a removable lid (for inspection), waterproofed using roofing felt (which should overhang the sides) and provided with an air inlet in the form of a piece of hosepipe set into it at an angle. The box may be entered by the hedgehog along an entrance passage, 15 inches (45 cm) long and 6 inches (15cm) wide and high. The box should be lined with a thick layer of dry newspaper and then filled with bedding such as dry straw.
- A 13 x 12 x 16 inch (30 3 x 30 x 40.5 cm) box constructed from marine ply and fully waterproofed, partially filled with dry leaves and grass, but keeping the entrance clear, placed in a quiet area of the garden and covered with soil.
INTERESTING FACTS:
- Hedgehogs are active at night but sleep all day, up to 18 hours!
- Hedgehogs have approximately 6000 spines on their backs.
- Approximately half of the hedgehog population die before they are a year old.
- Life expectancy is approx 2-3 years.
- Hedgehogs can swim, climb walls and run fast - speeds of up to 2 metres a second (4.5 mph)!
- Ancient Egyptians thought hedgehog fat would cure baldness
- Hedgehogs are distant relatives of moles and shrews.
- Bananas are a favoured food, reputedly good for their digestive systems.
- Milk can actually be harmful to Hedgehogs. Water and dry or canned cat/dog food is better.
- European Hedgehogs are they only spiny mammal found in Great Britain.
- They have excellent senses of hearing and smell, but their eyesight is very poor.
- When they feel threatened they roll themselves up into a ball to protect their vulnerable head and underside.
RESOURCES:
London Wildlife Trust, Hedgehog page
European Hedgehog
Over the Garden Gate
Wikipedia
Wildpro
Hedgehog Hollow
Hevol
The Animal Files
San Diego Zoo
Arkive
Wildlife Online
(All accessed 06.10.11)
COMPILED BY: Mark Martines