What do real hedgehogs eat? Hedgehog animal

The hedgehog is a very cute animal, delightful and tenderness for everyone, from young to old. This is the only animal of our northern fauna that has a needle-like shell on its back and sides. What do hedgehogs eat and how do they protect themselves from large predators?

How do hedgehogs defend themselves?

The hedgehog is able to curl up into a tight ball, exposing its prickly defense. Only the beast with powerful fangs or with long claws can reach such seemingly accessible prey! After all, a hedgehog does not know how to run and jump, it cannot climb a tree from an enemy, but, curled up into a ball, it hisses, twitches sharply and jumps if you touch it.

However, the hedgehog's quills are not as scary as, for example, those of a porcupine. They sit firmly in the owner’s skin and do not remain hanging on the nose of an unlucky hunter, but they can stab painfully and drive away a predator. In this sense, hedgehog needles are a real dog repeller. Gambling dogs injure their faces, unsuccessfully trying to grab a jumping prickly lump. But they also eventually understand that it is better to leave him alone.

What do hedgehogs eat?

IN wildlife Hedgehogs feed primarily on insects (such as beetles and beetle larvae), evidence, and worms. Hedgehogs do not disdain plant foods: mushrooms, berries, acorns. On occasion this small predator can destroy a bird's nest or kill a sleeping snake. Hedgehog diet natural conditions very diverse.

At home, hedgehogs eat almost the same as people: vegetables, fruits, meat, milk with bread crumbs, but all this must be alternated and sometimes the hedgehog should be fed with fresh caught or purchased dry insects.

How do hedgehogs live?

In winter, hedgehogs sleep, crawling under dead wood, dry leaves, or in someone's empty hole, and therefore do not make any reserves. However, the legend about the hedgehog carrying mushrooms and apples on its back is simply ineradicable! How could it have arisen? Probably, someone once saw how a hedgehog accidentally attached dry leaves or even an apple to its needles, and then carried this garbage around for some time.

If you want to keep the hedgehog in your garden, then do not “lick” the area to the last blade of grass. Leave somewhere a corner with impenetrable thickets of blackberries or raspberries - those where you can’t go without mosquito repellent - and put there mown grass, weeds after weeding, and for successful wintering hedgehog - brushwood, stones, old stumps, pieces of bark. In this corner you can sometimes put pieces of meat or a mouse that your beloved cat brought to you as a “gift”, but just don’t put a saucer of milk there - this product causes an upset stomach for the hedgehog.

And one more warning: hedgehogs may be among the animals infected with rabies, for example, from wild foxes. Therefore, be sure to vaccinate your pets against this serious viral disease. And if a hedgehog bites one of your family members, be sure to go with the victim to the nearest hospital.

The common hedgehog or European hedgehog is an animal from the Hedgehog family, which is a representative of the order Insectivores. The common hedgehog has been familiar to us since childhood. The pages of children's books introduced us to this sweet and kind animal. In this article you will find a description and photo of the common hedgehog and learn a lot about this brave little guy.

An ordinary hedgehog looks quite small, because its size is small. This prickly animal has a body length of 20-30 cm and a very short tail of 3 cm, which is invisible under its fur coat. The body weight of the common hedgehog is 700-800 g. Females are slightly larger than males in size.

The hedgehog looks funny. It has small ears, the length of which is 3 cm. The European hedgehog has a large head with an elongated muzzle, on which there are small, beady black eyes. One of the features of what a hedgehog looks like is its sharp and always moist black nose.

But, despite such a cute and funny appearance, the common hedgehog can boast of having small but sharp teeth. He has 20 of them on his upper jaw, and 16 on his lower jaw. The European hedgehog also has sharp claws on its paws. Each of its paws contains 5 fingers. The hind limbs of the hedgehog are slightly longer than the front ones.

And of course, the most important thing hallmark The hedgehog's spines are its quills. Thanks to them, the hedgehog doesn't look so harmless. Surely everyone has wondered, how many spines does a hedgehog have? So, usually an adult hedgehog has 5-6 thousand spines. Young hedgehogs have about 3 thousand spines.

The common hedgehog has short spines, no more than 3 cm long. The hedgehog's spines have a smooth surface, are empty inside and filled with air. They are brown in color with dark and light transverse stripes. Due to this coloring of its prickly coat, the hedgehog looks quite inconspicuous.

The hedgehog's spines on the head and sides are shorter and 2 cm long. Between the spines there are very sparse and thin hairs. The head and belly of the hedgehog are covered with coarse and dark hair.

Paws, muzzle and belly European hedgehogs They range in color from whitish-yellow to rich dark brown. The chest and throat of the hedgehog have a uniform color, without different white spots.

Where does the hedgehog live and how?

The common hedgehog lives in Western and Central Europe, the British Isles, southern Scandinavia, northwestern European Russia, Western Siberia and Kazakhstan. The common hedgehog also lives in New Zealand, where it was introduced. This insectivorous animal is most widespread in Europe, Western Siberia, northwestern Kazakhstan, Asia Minor, Amur region, northern and northeastern China.

The hedgehog lives in different places, but avoids large swamps and dense coniferous forests. The hedgehog lives preferring forest edges, copses and small clearings. In Europe, the common hedgehog can be found in mixed forests, bushes and grassy plains. Also, a hedgehog often lives next to a person. Therefore, finding a hedgehog in a city park or in a country house is a common occurrence.

Hedgehogs live by being active at night. During the day, hedgehogs live in their nests, where they can rest comfortably. Hedgehogs make their nests in bushes, holes, tree roots or empty rodent burrows.

Typically, a European hedgehog's nest is 15-20 cm in diameter and has a flooring of dry grass, leaves and moss. In such a nest the hedgehog sleeps and can take care of itself. With the help of their paws, hedgehogs take care of their prickly fur coat, and they lick their chest and belly with their tongue.

Also, hedgehogs each live in their own area, where they wander in search of food. During the night, the common hedgehog runs up to 3 km. Males show aggression among themselves and protect their territory. They snort noisily and make various sounds similar to sneezing.

The area of ​​the site for males is 7-39 hectares, and for smaller females it is 6-10 hectares. Despite the fact that hedgehogs prickly coat, they also shed. U common hedgehogs this usually occurs in spring or autumn. This process is very long and slow. Each new needle grows for 12-18 months.

The small size of the common hedgehog does not prevent it from being quite nimble. These animals can run at speeds of up to 3 m/s, and they are also excellent swimmers and jumpers. Hedgehogs have poor eyesight, but they have a very keen sense of smell and sensitive hearing.

In the summer, the hedgehog prepares for winter and accumulates fat reserves for the winter. In addition to his usual weight, he also gains 500 g of fat, because in winter the hedgehog hibernates. Hedgehogs spend the winter in their burrows. When frosts come, European hedgehogs hibernate, tightly closing the entrance to their burrow. Hibernation usually lasts from October to April.

During hibernation, a hedgehog's body temperature drops to 2 °C. Over the summer, the hedgehog must gain as much fat as possible, because if it hibernates without the necessary supply of fat, it may die of starvation in the winter.

After hibernation, this insectivorous animal does not immediately leave the nest, but waits until the air temperature rises to 15 °C. Common hedgehogs live alone, but settle close to each other. Adults avoid close contact with each other, with the exception of mating season. How many years do hedgehogs live? In nature, hedgehogs live 3-5 years, but the life expectancy of a hedgehog in captivity can reach 8-10 years.

Why do I eat needles? Everyone is familiar with the ability of hedgehogs to curl up into a prickly ball if danger threatens. This beast may be in this state long time until the threat passes. The hedgehog's spines form a strong armor. Therefore, the hedgehog needs needles for protection.

The hedgehog is a peace-loving creature, but it has plenty of enemies in nature. Wolves, foxes, eagle owls and other predators threaten the hedgehog's life. Having met a predator, the hedgehog first jumps on it to prick it, and then curls up into a ball. Having pricked its paws and muzzle, the predator loses interest and retreats.

But the enemies are cunning and are able to deceive the simple-minded hedgehog. Especially those that feed on hedgehogs. The eagle owl attacks unexpectedly and silently, trying to take the hedgehog by surprise. The bird's paws are protected by thick skin from the hedgehog's prickly needles. The fox drives the hedgehog to the water or throws it from a hill. In such situations, the hedgehog opens its abdomen and muzzle, becoming vulnerable to predators.

But in a duel between a European hedgehog and a snake, the prickly and fearless daredevil becomes the winner. The animal grabs the snake and curls up into a ball, gradually wrapping it around itself. After all, he is insensitive to many poisons.

The common hedgehog is an insectivorous animal. But the hedgehog's diet is not limited to insects. Hedgehogs mainly feed on a wide variety of insects, caterpillars, beetles, slugs, earthworms and also mice. It is quite rare for hedgehogs to get mice and voles.

Hedgehogs also eat eggs or chicks of small birds that make nests on the ground. Sometimes in nature, hedgehogs feed on reptiles and amphibians. Hedgehogs also eat berries and fruits. Therefore, we can safely say that the hedgehog is an omnivore. The only thing a hedgehog cannot eat is dairy products, as a hedgehog cannot digest lactose.

IN exceptional cases The hedgehog even eats a viper. After all, hedgehogs are immune to snake venom and more. A highly toxic poison found in other animals, this insectivorous mammal does not work.

Poisons such as arsenic, opium and even hydrocyanic acid also have little effect on European hedgehogs. However, large doses of poisons are fatal to hedgehogs. But doses that kill other animals, as well as humans, do not harm hedgehogs.

After hibernation, hedgehogs begin mating season. Hedgehogs become capable of reproducing at the age of 10-12 months. Males often fight for females. They bite each other's paws and snouts, push each other and stab each other with quills in battle. In a fight, hedgehogs snort and sniff loudly.

After the battle, the winner tries to impress the female and circles around her for hours, attracting attention. Hedgehogs do not form pairs and the female takes care of the young on her own. As a den, the hedgehog digs a hole or occupies empty rodent holes. A flooring of dry grass and leaves is arranged in the hole.

The female European hedgehog gives birth to offspring once a year. Pregnancy lasts a little more than 1.5 months. Usually 3-8 baby hedgehogs are born, but most often 4. Baby hedgehogs are born blind, and their bright pink skin has no spines or fur. The body weight of a baby hedgehog is only 12 grams.

In just a couple of hours from the moment of birth, hedgehogs develop soft spines that harden within 2 days. A baby hedgehog acquires a fully formed quill cover by the 15th day of life. At the same time, the baby hedgehog opens its eyes and begins to learn to curl up into a ball.

The female is with the babies in her den. If someone discovers the nest, the mother takes the hedgehogs to another place. Milk feeding lasts 1 month. When the feeding period ends, the hedgehogs learn to live independently. Already at 2 months they become much more mature, but they finally leave their native den in the fall.

How dangerous is a hedgehog and what is its benefit?

Let's figure out the harm and benefit of hedgehogs. Hedgehogs are useful in killing harmful insects. Hedgehogs eat insects such as chafers, nun caterpillars and gypsy moths. They also exterminate mice and voles. And where hedgehogs appeared, snakes and rats go away. Therefore, in the garden the hedgehog is a faithful assistant.

The harm of a hedgehog is that it can be a real pest, destroying bird nests. And this doesn't just apply to wildlife. If you have chickens at your dacha, then hedgehogs pose a threat to them.

But most of all, the hedgehog is dangerous because it can be a carrier of various diseases, especially rabies, salmonellosis, dermatomycosis, yellow fever and others. There are also a lot of ticks and fleas on hedgehogs. In addition, hedgehogs are among the hosts of ixodid ticks.

In the forest, hedgehogs collect ticks on themselves more than any other animal. After all, the prickly cover of a hedgehog, like a brush, collects ticks from the grass. The hedgehog is not able to get rid of ticks that have climbed between the needles. If you have animals at your dacha, this poses a danger to them first of all.

There is a huge misconception that hedgehogs can be kept at home. But hedgehogs are wild nocturnal animals, they are noisy and cannot be trained. Therefore, it is not recommended to keep hedgehogs as pets.

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What do hedgehogs eat? This question can be heard in a pet store or at a bazaar where these amazing animals are sold. There is probably no person who has lived at least a few years who has not heard about the hedgehog. Children know that this animal eats milk, apples, mushrooms, etc. There are hedgehogs that live at home and run around the room at night, knocking their claws on the floor. And when you frighten him, he curls up into a ball and snorts if you touch him with a stick or with a shoe.

Hedgehogs can live next to humans. For example, in our garden there was a hedgehog living with little hedgehogs four meters from the house, in the bushes. I was clearing out old bushes there and accidentally found her nest, in which there were three small flat pink hedgehogs with white soft needles. I demonstrated them to everyone who was at home, then took them to their place, to the nest. It was round, 20-25 cm in diameter, made of sticks, grass, leaves, pieces plastic bags and newspapers. And the inside is lined with thin blades of grass, old hair (probably dog ​​hair) and other “soft things”.

After an hour and a half (the Internet was fast) we already knew what hedgehogs eat, where they live, how they behave, and who loves (eats) them. And as soon as dusk came, the hedgehog went out hunting. The dog that lived in the yard, as soon as the hedgehog came, started barking and called everyone to look at this prickly miracle. Later it turned out that this dog is not afraid of hedgehog thorns. And one day late in the evening we heard sluggish barking, then there was a squeal, like a kitten - just as pitiful.

I thought that our dog had attacked the kitten and ran out of the house to save the baby. But it turned out to be a hedgehog, which the dog (a very kind Caucasian) rolled with his paw along the gravel path and was surprised that this ball also squeaked. To the dog’s chagrin, we had to separate them - the dog into the kennel, and the hedgehog onto the porch under the light of a lamp for examination. It turned out that the prickly one was only scared, because there were no external injuries. They let him onto the path, and he quickly ran about his business.

The hedgehogs that I found were no more than 2 days old, because on the third day the needles usually darken. I fed their hedgehogs from 2, 3 or even 4 pairs of nipples. Dad the hedgehog, according to hedgehog custom, did not live with his family, but lived somewhere nearby. The hunting territory of the mother hedgehog ranged from 6 to 10 hectares, and the father’s was 2 times larger. That is, all the neighboring vegetable gardens, a meadow and 2-3 hundred meters of almost dry ditch.

Although hedgehogs swim well, they don’t like to live in swamps - they can jump from hummock to hummock, but they don’t want to. They see poorly, but they can smell prey very far away, and they can catch up with it by running at speeds of up to 3 m/sec. Dads don’t allow other people’s hedgehogs into their territory and don’t visit their neighbors. Although they say that hedgehogs go to visit bear cubs and horses. But this is in the movies. And what hedgehogs eat was also shown in the movies.

And in life they eat everything they come across while hunting: adult beetles, mole crickets, lizards, mice, all kinds of reptiles and small amphibians. They can eat worms, caterpillars, slugs, eggs and chicks from nests located on the ground, and even feed the hedgehog up to late autumn, accumulating fat for the winter, like huge bear, and then hides in the nest, wraps itself in its litter and falls asleep until spring. In winter, if a hedgehog is awakened, it will almost certainly die. But this is an ordinary hedgehog.

Let's talk about one more type of these animals. Sometimes he also has ears - not like a hare, of course, but also large, up to 5 cm. And he himself is half the size of an ordinary hedgehog. Long-eared animals live in Asia and parts of Africa. In the CIS - in the southern regions. Their needles grow only on their backs. There is light soft fur on the sides, legs, muzzle and belly. The long-eared hedgehog lives in deserts and semi-deserts. It digs burrows itself, up to 1.5 m, or takes up abandoned ones. During the winter, it accumulates fat and goes into the hedgehog’s “den.” When in danger, it either runs away, or hisses and tries to prick with needles; it does not know how to curl up into a ball. It feeds on the same things that hedgehogs eat - beetles, caterpillars, sometimes mice, snakes, lizards. Does not disdain berries and fruits, but does not climb trees.

Many people want an unusual pet in their home, which includes hedgehogs. But having got a hedgehog, every owner is faced with the question of what to feed it, because it is unlikely that pet stores sell special food for this animal. Of course, first you can find out what hedgehogs eat in the forest.

But most likely the answer will not please you much, since their main food is insects, frogs, snakes, mice and bird eggs.

What to feed a hedgehog at home

If you decide to get a hedgehog, this does not mean that you will have to collect various insects for it or, even worse, catch snakes. In fact, these animals can eat quite normal foods that are available in every store.

But first, I still want to dispel the myth that hedgehogs supposedly love apples. Surely you have noticed in many cartoons or even advertisements that hedgehogs constantly carry apples on their needles, and hence the opinion that this is their favorite food. In fact, they don’t like these fruits and physically cannot attach them to needles. In addition, there is no point in making supplies for the winter, since hedgehogs hibernate at this time. Therefore, if a hedgehog has settled in your house, then do not try to constantly offer him only apples. Well, now let’s return to the question of what hedgehogs eat at home.

Since hedgehogs are predators, their diet must include beef and veal scalded with boiling water. Moreover, it is best to make minced meat from meat and mix it with buckwheat or rice. Of course, you should also pamper your pet with insects, but don’t panic, because no one will force you to catch cockroaches, worms and beetles. You can purchase them at a pet store, already dry and ground. But in pure form You should not give a mixture of insects to your pet; you just need to add it to grated vegetables and fruits, as well as to raw eggs. As for drinks, hedgehogs prefer to drink freshly squeezed juices and water.

In addition to all this, you need to know what to feed small hedgehogs in captivity, because suddenly you decide to shelter the baby. So, in the first two months of life, they should receive food through a pipette, unless, of course, a mother hedgehog lives next to them. While the hedgehog is small, it should be limited from meat, so you need to feed it with chopped fruits and vegetables. He should also be constantly fed goat's milk. But, under no circumstances offer him cow's milk, since it is possible that the hedgehog will have stomach problems because of this.

Species: Common hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

Order: Insectivores (Eulipotyphla)

Family: Hedgehogs (Erinaceidae)

Genus: Eurasian hedgehogs(Erinaceus)

The common hedgehog, or European hedgehog, is the largest representative of the insectivorous order. It is easy to distinguish it from other animals by its spiny back. This inquisitive and energetic animal is well oriented in the surrounding world thanks to its keen sense of smell and keen hearing. Paleontological studies have proven that hedgehogs have existed in nature for 15 million years.

Appearance of a hedgehog

The common hedgehog is a prickly small animal. The body length of the animal reaches 20-30 centimeters, the tail is short and grows up to 3 centimeters. Adults weigh about 800 grams. Males are slightly larger in size than females.

Instead of hair, the upper part of the body of hedgehogs is covered with a strong, needle-like shell. The head and belly are protected by coarse, fairly tough fur. The needles of European hedgehogs are short, 2-3 centimeters long. The surface of the spines is smooth, thin but long, very sparse hair grows between them.

The muzzle of this species is elongated with a movable and constantly moist nose. On the lower jaw, insectivorous animals have 16 small but sharp teeth, on the upper jaw - 20. The upper incisors are spaced widely so that there is room for the lower one to bite. The first incisors are enlarged and therefore look like fangs. Sharp teeth allow hedgehogs to easily chew shellfish shells and hard insect wings.

Small ears (up to 3.5 centimeters long) are visible on the wedge-shaped head of mammals. It is noteworthy that the common hedgehogs that inhabit Cyprus have larger ears. In the middle of the head there is a strip of bare skin without needles or hair.

Hedgehog in autumn leaves

The hind limbs of spiny animals are slightly longer than the front ones. The paws have 5 toes with sharp claws. The average size of forelimb prints is 25-30 millimeters, hind paw prints are approximately 35-47 millimeters. The width of the track is about 7 centimeters; the hind limbs partially overlap the prints of the front ones, since hedgehogs move in small steps.

Interesting fact

The body of adult hedgehogs is covered with approximately 5000-6000 strong spines; young hedgehogs have slightly fewer spines - about 3000. Inside the needles are hollow, filled with air.

The color of the fur on the face, legs and belly of common hedgehogs varies from yellowish-white to dark brown. The needles are distinguished by a brownish tint and have characteristic dark transverse stripes. On the chest and throat the color is uniform, without spots. European hedgehogs living in Spain have pale fur color.

Interesting fact

Hedgehogs have well-developed subcutaneous muscles. Strong longitudinal and developed circular muscles of the body help animals curl up into a tight, prickly ball, bristling with needles.

Habitat of hedgehogs

The distribution range of the common hedgehog includes Central and Western Europe, Asia Minor, southern part Scandinavia and the British Isles, northeastern China. Also this type found in Western Siberia, in the territory of the European part of Russia and the South Caucasus, in Kazakhstan. In addition, the European hedgehog was introduced into New Zealand. In the Alps, hedgehogs live at altitudes of up to 2000 meters above sea level in the zone of dwarf pines.

The species Erinaceus europaeus lives in a variety of places in the wild. These mammals prefer to settle in small clearings, in broad-leaved and mixed forests, copses and edges, near river valleys. They are often found near people, in cultivated landscapes, and even in cities. Hedgehogs try to avoid solid coniferous areas and heavily swampy areas.

On European continent The common hedgehog can be found in open forests, bushes, grassy plains, sandy areas and even park areas. These animals dig small burrows in bushes and under tree roots, and sometimes settle in abandoned rodent dwellings. Hedgehogs do not stray far from their homes.

Hedgehog diet

The European hedgehog is an omnivore. The bulk of its diet consists of insects, slugs and caterpillars, earthworms. Hedgehogs also feed on sweet berries and fruits, and seeds of cereal plants. Sometimes they eat mushrooms, acorns and moss; they can also eat food waste, found in summer cottages.

In natural habitats, these mammals rarely attack vertebrates; torpored amphibians and reptiles become victims of hedgehogs. Northern populations of representatives of the hedgehog family feed on frogs, lizards, mice and other small rodents (shrews, voles). They love to feast on the eggs and young chicks of ground-nesting birds. In general, hedgehogs are very voracious and in one night of hunting can eat an amount of food equal to 1/3 of their own weight.

Interesting fact

While studying the behavior of European hedgehogs in New Zealand, scientists noticed that in new living conditions the animals become less asocial and can even spend the night in common shelters. The diet also changed; hedgehogs began to eat native plants, sometimes replacing their usual food of animal origin with them.

Ordinary hedgehogs have well-developed hearing and sense of smell, but weak vision. It is the subtle sense of smell that helps animals find food in complete darkness. In addition, these animals swim well and can jump. When running, they reach speeds of up to 4 kilometers per hour, and walk by stepping on the ground with their entire foot.

Interesting fact

Hedgehogs are sensitive to odors. When encountering a strong-smelling object, they exhibit a very strange behavior that zoologists call “self-lubrication.” Mammals lick the object until foamy saliva begins to secrete in their mouths, and then transfer it to their spines. Scientists have not yet found an explanation for this.

In mid-autumn, when the soil begins to freeze and the amount of hedgehogs’ main food decreases sharply, the prickly animals begin to prepare for hibernation. For the winter, they build large nests in empty spaces under old stumps and tree roots, under piles of dead wood. With the onset of severe frosts, animals hide in a shelter and tightly close the entrance. Then they burrow into fallen leaves, curl into a loose ball and fall into real winter hibernation. And only in a warm, snowless winter can you meet a hedgehog awakened from sleep, wandering around the hole in confusion.

Interesting fact

Hedgehogs use their needle-like cover to transport various “building” materials when constructing a nest for hibernation.

During deep sleep, hedgehogs' heartbeat slows down to several beats per minute, blood pressure drops and body temperature drops sharply to 2 degrees Celsius. During hibernation, the mass of mammals decreases by a third, since they do not feed, but live thanks to the fat reserves stored in the body. If hedgehogs have not accumulated enough body fat (approximately 500 grams) over the summer and autumn months, they may die of starvation in winter.

After a period of hibernation, the animals do not leave the hole until the air warms up to 15 degrees Celsius. At the end of winter sleep, hedgehogs wake up very hungry and can go in search of food not only at night, but also during the day.

Typically, European hedgehogs shed in spring or autumn. This process is slow; only one needle out of three changes per year. Each new thorn takes approximately 12-18 months to grow.

Reproduction of hedgehogs

Right after hibernation, early spring mating season begins for common hedgehogs. Fierce fights often occur between males for the female. Hedgehogs push and bite each other, use their prickly needles in battle, while the animals sniffle very loudly and even snort. However, despite the fierceness of the fight, the males do not cause serious damage to each other. Usually the weaker opponent will simply run away. After the fight is over, the winning male begins courtship - circling around the female, puffing and quietly snorting. These games can last for several hours. As a result, the female strongly smoothes her needles and the pair begins to mate.

Pregnancy in females lasts approximately 5-6 weeks. For the birth of cubs expectant mother specially arranges a brood nest, lining it with soft grass and dry leaves. In one litter, from May to October, from 2 to 9 babies are born, usually 5-6.

Interesting fact

If a den with small hedgehogs is discovered by a person or animal, caring mother in teeth transfers offspring to a new nest.

Hedgehogs are born naked, blind and helpless. Their skin has a bright pink hue. Newborns weigh about 20 grams with a body length of up to 6.5 centimeters. Within a few hours after birth, hedgehogs grow light, soft needles (100-150 pieces). Over the next 36 hours, dark-colored needles appear. By this time, the babies are already beginning to see the light and, in general, are growing very quickly.

In the first days of the cubs' life, the mother warms them with her warmth. After a week, small hedgehogs begin to crawl, and at the age of 11 days they can already curl into a ball. Closer to the third week of life, the needle-like cover is completely formed in animals. The lactation period lasts 1 month, after which the young begin an independent life. After two months, the young individuals grow to the size of adults. Hedgehogs reach sexual maturity in the second year of life.

A hedgehog in the wild ordinary lives 3-5 years, in captivity - up to 10 years.

The hedgehog is having lunch

Benefits and harms for humans

The common hedgehog eats harmful insects: May beetles, gypsy moths, nun caterpillars and weevils, which benefits humans. But at the same time, hedgehogs destroy domestic eggs and chicks, as well as birds nesting on the ground, and eat shrews and moles.

In addition, on hedgehogs in large quantities there are fleas and ticks, and therefore these animals can be carriers of such dangerous diseases as tularemia, tick-borne encephalitis, yellow fever, salmonellosis and leptospirosis, dermatomycosis, rabies.

In forest plantations and forested areas, hedgehogs collect various ticks (including encephalitis) on themselves much more than any other animals. This is facilitated by the needle-like cover, which, like a brush, collects hungry ticks from the grass. Hedgehogs can no longer get rid of ticks that are firmly caught between the thorns.

Enemies of hedgehogs in their natural habitat

The prickly animals move through the forest very noisily, and during meals they sniff and chomp, which often attracts attention to themselves. But most predators are too tough for hedgehogs. When meeting with large forest inhabitants, sensing the slightest danger, they snort and try to jump up to prick the enemy. If this technique does not work, the hedgehogs curl up into a prickly ball. Mammals can remain in this position for quite a long time.

However, sharp spines do not always reliably protect hedgehogs from predators. Bears and foxes, wolves and jackals, badgers, eagles can turn the animals around. During night hunting, representatives of the hedgehog family are often attacked by eagle owls. Thanks to the soft plumage, the flight of these birds is almost silent, which allows them to overtake hedgehogs by surprise.

Interesting fact

The number of hedgehogs in the wild directly depends on successful wintering. In cold winters, animals often freeze, choosing a shelter that is not deep enough for hibernation.

Hedgehog at home

Hedgehogs easily adapt to life around humans and are popular pets these days. Many, having caught a prickly animal in the forest, bring it to their home. This is a very unwise decision. Hedgehogs living in the wild can carry dangerous diseases. In addition, ticks and fleas can almost always be found in the thorns of these animals.

The best way to buy a funny hedgehog is to contact breeders who can guarantee the pet’s health and good heredity.

It's not difficult. The animals need to find a decent home - a spacious metal or wooden cage, always with a pallet. The bottom of the cage should always be covered with straw or sawdust. They need to be changed every day to prevent unpleasant odors. Bowls of water and food should also be placed in the cage. For food, you can offer your hedgehog:

• Lean raw meat, cut into pieces;
• Fresh fish;
• Boiled liver;
• Carrots and apples;
• Crickets, mealworms, bloodworms.

If you plan to let your pet roam around the room, you will need to keep a close eye on him. A hedgehog can get hurt, get tangled in electrical wires, or chew things. Since hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, it is in the dark that they will snort, puff and rustle in a house or apartment. It is also important not to forget that these mammals are loners, and therefore two pets cannot live peacefully in one cage.

Healthy adults can be bathed (but not frequently) by cleaning out the spines with a toothbrush.

It should also be mentioned that domestic hedgehogs in captivity need hibernation. Without deep sleep, the animal may die. IN autumn period The animal needs to be fed intensively so that the body stores enough fat. At the end of autumn, the hedgehog will experience a period of lethargy and numbness, which means that it is time for hibernation. You should put a lot of dry leaves and sawdust in your pet's cage, then place your pet hedgehog there. The cage should be taken to a cool place where the air temperature will not exceed 5 degrees Celsius - to the attic, veranda or barn.