๐ฆ
๐ท๏ธ
Classification
Mammal
๐ฝ๏ธ
Diet
Omnivore
โฑ๏ธ
Lifespan
3โ7 years
โ๏ธ
Weight
0.5โ1.1 kg
Population Trend
โก๏ธStable
Description
A familiar garden visitor covered in spines, beloved across Europe but in significant decline.
Habitat
๐ฟ hedgerows๐ฟ woodland edge๐ฟ gardens๐ฟ grassland
Extended Data
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Eulipotyphla
Family
Erinaceidae
Genus
Erinaceus
Fun Facts
1
Covered in around 5,000-7,000 spines made of keratin.
2
When threatened, they roll into a tight ball of spikes.
3
UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000.
4
They can travel up to 3 km per night searching for food.
5
Hedgehogs are surprisingly good swimmers.