Where does a hedgehog live and what does it eat? Life expectancy of a hedgehog in the natural environment and at home.

A hedgehog is an animal that belongs to the phylum Chordata, class Mammals, order Urchiniformes, family Urchinaceae (lat. Erinaceidae).

The origin of the Russian word “hedgehog” has not yet been fully studied. According to one version, the hedgehog got its name from the Greek “echinos”, which means “snake eater”. Supporters of another version see in the word “hedgehog” the Indo-European root “eg`h”, meaning “to prick”.

Daurian hedgehog(lat. Mesechinus dauuricus)

It belongs to the genus Steppe Urchins and differs from most of its relatives in the absence of a strip of bare skin separating the spines of the head into a parting. The spines of the hedgehog are short, sandy or Brown, the fur is coarse, colored gray or dark brown.

This species of hedgehog is a typical inhabitant of forest-steppes and steppe areas from Transbaikalia to Mongolia and northern China. Hedgehogs feed on beetles, small mammals (pikas), chicks and eggs of birds, cotoneaster and rose hip berries.

Ordinary gymnura(lat. Echinosorex gymnura)

Belongs to the subfamily rat hedgehogs. Gymnura grows in length from 26 to 45 cm with a body weight from 500 g to 2 kg. The hedgehog's tail, covered with sparse hairs and scales, reaches 17-30 cm in length, and its back part is painted white. The back and sides are black, the hedgehog's head and neck are white.

Gymnura inhabits wet rainforests southeast Asia from Malacca to Borneo. It feeds on invertebrates and small vertebrates, crustaceans, frogs, toads, fish, and fruits.

Small hymnura (lat. Hylomys suillus)

The smallest in the family. The length of its body does not exceed 10-14 cm. The tail reaches 2.5 cm. The weight of the animal is 45-80 grams.

The animal lives in mountainous areas and on hills in countries South-East Asia(Indonesia, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China). Lesser gymnura eat insects and worms.

Hedgehogs are heroes of many fairy tales and cartoons; we all have known them since childhood. In the summer, when the sun is setting, these interesting animals can be found not only on the forest edge, but also on quiet village streets, in city parks, as well as in gardens, where they look for food - beetles, worms and other invertebrates.

Hedgehogs appeared on Earth more than 15 million years ago. Today they live in Western and Central Europe, the European part of Russia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and Kazakhstan. They are also found on Far East and in Siberia. They prefer to live in deciduous forests, meadows and bushes. They can hide in tall herbaceous plants and the roots of old trees from enemies (foxes, eagle owls, wild pigs, crows, badgers and ferrets). Avoid dense coniferous areas, mountainous and swampy areas.

Some species live in the dry steppes and deserts of Africa and the Middle East.

Types of hedgehogs

The hedgehog family (Erinaceidae) includes two subfamilies: Hedgehogs, or true hedgehogs (Erinaceinae), and gymnura (Galericinae) (the so-called rat hedgehogs). Gymnurs, unlike the well-known real hedgehogs covered with needles, lack such “decoration”.

The subfamily True hedgehogs includes 15 species of hedgehogs in four genera:

Representatives of the African hedgehog genus:

Algerian;
White-bellied;
Somali;
South African.

To the family Steppe hedgehogs There are 2 types:

Daursky;
Chinese.

The genus of Eurasian hedgehogs includes:

Eastern European;
Amursky;
Ordinary or European.

Genus Eared hedgehogs:

Apodal;
Indian;
Collared;
Dark needle;
Ethiopian;
Eared hedgehog.

In the fauna of Russia there are three species of these animals: the common (European hedgehog), the Daurian hedgehog and the long-eared hedgehog. The common hedgehog is the largest and most numerous species.

The long-eared hedgehog weighs almost half as much as an ordinary one. It lives up to its name: its ears are really longer. In Russia, it is distributed in the Lower Volga region, the North Caucasus, and Tuva. You can learn more about the eared hedgehog from the article.

Larger than the long-eared one, the spiny covering on the head is not divided by a “parting”, like that of the European hedgehog. Distributed in Transbaikalia. It differs from other species in that in cloudy weather it is also active during the daytime.

If you want to have a pet hedgehog
A species such as the African white-bellied hedgehog is much more suitable for keeping at home than the common (European) hedgehog. – a hybrid breed bred specifically for home keeping. It is significantly smaller than the European one that is familiar to us, does not emit a smell, is friendly and does not hibernate. In addition, male African white-bellied hedgehogs do not mark territory, and females have little estrus.

External features of hedgehogs

The body length is 14-30 cm, the tail is about 3 cm. The size of the hedgehog depends on whether the animal is of African or European origin. African hedgehogs grow to a maximum of 24 cm, European ones are larger - up to 30 cm. They weigh from 0.7 to 1.2 kg. The weight of the animals depends on the season: in autumn they are the most well-fed.

The color of hedgehogs may vary slightly. The upper parts are usually dark brown with light colored needle tips, but can be black or whitish-gray. The abdomen, depending on the species, is brown, gray or black, often with a white spot on the chest. The head and abdomen are covered with thick, coarse hair, which allows hedgehogs to avoid pricking themselves with needles when curled up into a ball. Paws with sharp claws; the hind ones are slightly longer than the front ones. Each paw has 5 toes.

Hedgehogs have an elongated, movable muzzle, round black eyes and small round ears. The fur on the face varies from yellowish-white to dark brown. The sharp nose of hedgehogs, like the nose of dogs, is constantly wet.

Most of the animals' bodies are covered with needles up to three centimeters long. The needles serve the animals as good protection from most enemies: curled up into a prickly ball, the hedgehog becomes practically invulnerable to predators. There is a stripe on the middle part of the head that is not covered with quills or hair.

Hedgehog quills

Needles - " business card"hedgehogs, they cover the back and upper part of the sides of the animal. Adult hedgehogs have more than 5,000 spines. The needles are modified hair. On the sides of the animal you can see very thin needles and thick bristly hairs, demonstrating the development of one from the other.

Hedgehog needles are light and durable, each with many small air chambers separated from each other by thin plates. Closer to the base, the needles narrow to a thin flexible neck, and then expand again to a small ball sitting in the skin. Such a device ensures that any external load on the needles (for example, an impact from a fall) leads to bending of their thin moving part, and not to the insertion of the base of the needles into the body of the hedgehog. A small muscle is associated with the base of each needle, which brings it into a vertical position. Usually these muscles are relaxed and the needles are smoothed. When there is danger, the hedgehog does not immediately curl up into a ball; at first, it simply raises its needles and waits for the threat to pass. Raised needles with sharp tips stick out in different directions at different angles, crossing each other, creating an almost impenetrable armor.

How does a hedgehog curl up into a ball?

Everyone knows the ability of hedgehogs to curl up into a prickly ball. But how do they do it? The thing is that under the skin they have powerful muscles, which are more developed on the sides than in the center of the back, forming a closed ring - the circular muscle. When the orbicularis muscle contracts, it acts like a string that tightens the opening of the bag. When the hedgehog begins to curl up, two small muscles first push the skin with the needle cover and the underlying circular muscle over the muzzle and sides, then the circular muscle contracts, the head and back are pressed against each other with force, and the needles tightly cover the unprotected areas of the body. This device is very effective for protection against foxes, dogs, raccoons, and birds of prey.

What do hedgehogs eat in the wild?

The common hedgehog is an omnivore. Its diet mainly consists of insects, earthworms, snails, slugs, frogs, voles. Sometimes it can eat an amphibian or reptile. In addition, hedgehogs do not mind snacking on plant foods: fruits, berries, acorns. If you're lucky, the hedgehog will happily feast on the eggs and chicks of small birds nesting on the ground.

Hedgehogs have poor eyesight. They rely primarily on their senses of smell and hearing to interact with the outside world. The long-eared hedgehog has particularly sensitive hearing: it perceives high-frequency sounds up to 45 kHz, while humans hear only up to 18-20 kHz. This feature helps hedgehogs find invertebrates underground.

Hedgehogs and snakes

Many have heard about the amazing property of hedgehogs - resistance to snake venom. However, this ability, unlike mongooses, is not absolute (hedgehogs are only partially resistant to poison) and varies among different individuals. The antihemorrhagic substance erinacin, a protein secreted by the muscles of the animal, protects against hedgehog venom. This substance prevents the hemorrhagic and proteolytic activity of the poison. Erinacin, coupled with a protective, spiny cover, allows hedgehogs to attack snakes and, if the fight is successful, eat them, but this does not happen often.

Hedgehog lifestyle

The hedgehog is a nocturnal animal. During the day, he sleeps in some kind of shelter or nest, which he makes in bushes, holes, piles of brushwood, under the roots of old trees, in abandoned holes and other secluded places, and at dusk he goes out hunting.

These prickly little animals by nature are homebodies and loners, but they settle close to each other, while trying not to intersect. Males are aggressive towards other males of their species and vigilantly guard their territory from the invasion of competitors.

As cold weather approaches, hedgehogs collect dry leaves and grass and drag them into their nest, trying to properly insulate it. In October, when frost sets in, ordinary hedgehogs close the entrance to the shelter and fall into deep torpor - hibernation. During the summer, the animal needs to gain a sufficient supply of fat (at least 0.5 kg), otherwise in winter it may die of hunger. During hibernation, all life processes slow down: the animal’s body temperature drops from 33.7 to 1.8 ° C, the pulse rate decreases from 180 beats per minute to 20-60, the hedgehog takes only one breath per minute. Hibernation usually lasts until April. When the air temperature reaches +15° C and stable warm weather sets in, the hedgehog leaves the nest.

Reproduction

Having regained strength after hibernation, the hedgehog goes in search of a “bride”.

Males often engage in fierce fights over females. Opponents push each other with their spiky shells, bite each other on the face and legs, but do not cause injury. After some time, the weaker opponent retreats, and the winner, with renewed energy, begins to court his chosen one, circling around her for hours, puffing and snorting. Such efforts cannot go unnoticed.

After mating, the animals scatter about their usual business. Shortly before giving birth (and the pregnancy lasts 49 days), the hedgehog begins to prepare a nest for the offspring. Usually between three and eight hedgehogs are born. They are born completely helpless, naked and blind. The skin of newborns is bright pink, and their body weight is only 12 grams. The needles of newborn hedgehogs are located under the skin, but already 6 hours after birth the first soft needles become visible. By the fifteenth day of life, the needle cover is completely formed. The female takes her parental responsibilities responsibly: in case of any danger, she takes her children with her mouth and carries them to a new shelter. Hedgehogs grow quickly. For a month they are fed with nutritious mother's milk, and by autumn their independent life begins. Puberty they have it by 10-12 months.

Conservation in nature

In the last two decades, the number of common hedgehogs has been noticeably declining. The main reason is the separation of their habitats as a result of human activity, which leads to the division of large populations into many small ones that are not connected with each other. According to research, hedgehog populations living just 15 km from each other have different genetic compositions, indicating rare exchange between populations.

Another significant reason for the disappearance of hedgehogs is their high mortality rate on roads, where the defensive strategy, so effective against predators, dooms them to death under the wheels of cars.

The hedgehogs' habitat is constantly being destroyed by humans: the animals are killed by insect control drugs, solid fences, barriers, and chain-link meshes that impede their movement in gardens.

It’s worth thinking about: hedgehogs are one of the oldest animals on earth, they survived glacial period, and the reduction in their numbers is an alarming sign for humanity.

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. Even though hedgehogs have a prickly coat, they also shed. In ordinary 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 frost comes, European hedgehogs go into hibernation. hibernation, tightly closing the entrance to the hole. 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, except 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 animal can remain in this state for a 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 life of the hedgehog. 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 It 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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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 world around it 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 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. This species is also found in Western Siberia, in the European part of Russia and the South Caucasus, and 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 dense 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 main part of its diet consists of insects, slugs and caterpillars, and 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.

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, in early spring mating season begins for common hedgehogs. There are often fierce fights 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 future mom 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: chafer beetles, gypsy moths, nun caterpillars and weevils, which is beneficial to 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 their meals they sniffle and slurp, 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 people, 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.

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.

Life expectancy of hedgehogs natural environment rarely reaches high levels, since many dangers await them there: from predators to severe diseases and death from starvation. In captivity, this indicator is significantly longer, which is due to a number of objective factors. If you create comfortable conditions for an unusual pet, it may well live for 7–10 years. There were also long-lived individuals who delighted their owner for 16 years. The breed of a given mammal also plays an important role, because each species has its own characteristics.

Reasons for the longevity of domestic hedgehogs

In the wild, the average lifespan of hedgehogs is 3 to 5 years. At home these unusual pets live up to 10 or even 16 years thanks to the creation of favorable conditions for existence.

The reasons for this are as follows:

Absence natural enemies and various dangers that await the animal in the wild. He cannot fall under the wheels of a car and die in forest fire, fall into the mouth of a predator or die as a result of crops being poisoned by pesticides.
Balanced and timely nutrition, which eliminates the possibility of death from hunger in winter period. Very often these mammals suffer from a banal lack of food. The reserves accumulated for hibernation are always not enough, and when waking up, the hedgehog resembles a skeleton rather than a healthy animal.
Timely veterinary care in case of diseases that wild animals are very often exposed to.
The hedgehog is not a pack animal and does not need anyone’s company at all (except during the mating season). The animal is very aggressive towards its fellows. The absence of rivals claiming territory or a female, who are capable of causing serious injury in the natural environment, has a positive effect on the pet’s quality of life.

Which type is preferable for living at home?

There are several breeds of hedgehogs that are bred specifically for home keeping:

African. This group of hedgehogs is thermophilic and hibernates only when bad weather when the air temperature drops below 15 degrees or due to lack of food. They never hibernate at home. On average, such pets have a life expectancy of 8 years, and the rules for keeping them differ little from the recommendations for caring for ordinary forest hedgehogs. This breed includes: pygmy hedgehog, Algerian, white-bellied, Somali, South African.
Steppe. Representatives of this species living in steppe regions do not require special care. The only condition is high room temperature and low humidity. The lifestyle of prickly pets should also be taken into account; they hibernate when the temperature drops. Varieties: Daurian and Chinese.
Eurasian. One thing can be said about these hedgehogs - they adapt perfectly to harsh conditions. climatic conditions. Varieties of this breed: Amur (Far Eastern), Eastern European (white-breasted), European (common).
Eared. This group prefers spacious enclosures. For them it is necessary to observe special temperature regime: The animals can easily tolerate heat, but they are completely unsuited to cold weather. This breed includes: Hollow-bellied, Indian, Collared, Dark-spined, Long-eared, Ethiopian.

The listed varieties are described in the table below:

Variety	Lifespan	Short description	Features of home maintenance
African pygmy hedgehog	Incapable of surviving in the natural environment, in captivity they can live up to 6–10 years	This popular decorative breed was specially created for keeping at home. It is easier to establish contact with its representatives; they are distinguished by their dwarf size, stable immunity, affectionate disposition and kindness. Body length reaches 15–25 cm, tail - 2–4 cm. Weight varies from 370 to 700 grams	The following conditions must be met: the air temperature in the room should be as follows: daytime - 22–25 degrees, nighttime - 20–22; mandatory physical exercise, since a hedgehog can eat a volume of food per night equal to a third of its own weight. There should be no problems with the diet, because this species is omnivorous and eats: insects (crickets, moths, bedbugs, locusts); invertebrates (earthworms and mealworms, slugs, snails, maggots, larvae); small vertebrates; carrion; shelled boiled and raw eggs; chicks; reptiles; fruits (banana, melon, mango); vegetables (peas, carrots, cucumber, zucchini) mushrooms; berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries); greens (parsley) and seaweed(no more than 1 tbsp per day); seeds and roots of plants; scorpions and small ones poisonous snakes, thanks to resistance to toxins and poisons; canned cat and dog food and dry food; meat (boiled chicken) and fish (salmon); small amphibians; skim cheese. Do not feed: onions, avocados, cow's milk, pork and bacon, liver, baked goods. As a treat, you can occasionally offer your hedgehog yogurt or baby fruit puree without sugar.
Algerian, or North African	Life expectancy in nature is from 4 to 6 years, in captivity they can live up to 10 years	This is the largest representative of its group. Body length - from 20 to 35 cm, weight - from 200 to 600 g. The hedgehog is very thermophilic and never hibernates	The necessary conditions: Maintaining the temperature range from 22 to 26 degrees. Proper nutrition. A hedgehog's diet must include various insects and invertebrates (bugs, crickets, wax moth larvae, moths, mealworms, snails and slugs, various large beetles). Among vegetables and fruits, it is preferable to treat your pet to cabbage, melon and fresh peas. Small frogs and newborn mice also form the basis of the diet. You can feed occasionally with high-quality canned cat food. Young hedgehogs are fed once a day in the dark, just like adults, but the food is given in very small pieces. Uneaten food must be removed regularly. During the breeding season, the frequency of feedings and the size of portions should be increased.
White-bellied	In nature - about 4–5 years, at home it can live up to 6–8 years	The maximum body length of representatives of this species reaches 22 cm, weight - 700 g	High indoor air temperature of 24 degrees and above; low humidity; using an ordinary “cat” house as housing, located away from drafts and directly on the floor, since this species has a negative attitude towards being kept in a cage or enclosure; in addition to the foods included in the diet of most breeds, you can feed your pet snakes and scorpions, since it is resistant to poisons
Somali	In the wild it lives up to 3–4 years, at home it can live up to 8	This variety is not much different from other representatives African hedgehogs. They reach 18–24 cm in length and their weight reaches 600 g.	Somali hedgehogs are unpretentious, omnivores, and can be fed in the same way as other breeds. The room temperature should not fall below 22 degrees, otherwise the pet may hibernate. This species absolutely cannot tolerate small and cramped cages, so the door must always be kept open. After walking around the apartment, the hedgehog will definitely voluntarily return to the house. You should check his home more often for the presence of food supplies and remove them from there, since he drags uneaten food into his hole
South African	In nature they live up to 5 years, at home they can live up to 10	Representatives of this breed grow up to 20 cm in length and weigh on average from 350 to 700 g. These animals are very slow, they do not like to run fast and move around the territory slowly	They calmly tolerate closed spaces, and their favorite activities are sleeping and eating, so you need to carefully monitor that the prickly pet does not overeat. They treat people well, but are afraid of sharp and loud sounds. You cannot turn on the TV or radio in front of your pet, otherwise the animal will experience constant stress, which will shorten the days of his life. This species is resistant to most diseases, but does not tolerate drafts, high humidity and low temperatures.
Daursky	In nature, the Daurian hedgehog lives from 4 to 6 years, at home - up to 8 years, less often up to 10	The body size of these individuals is approximately 20–30 cm. Weight varies from 600 to 1600 g depending on the season (closer to the hibernation period the animal becomes more plump)	The Daurian hedgehog loves solitude and does not at all favor competitors on its territory. And he will consider not only the cage, but the entire apartment to be his own home. If for an ordinary hedgehog the area of an individual feeding area ranges from 6 to 40 hectares, then for a Daurian it reaches 400 hectares. Therefore, you should not have other pets with this hedgehog. Spiny creatures of this species do not have a permanent home in nature. Males spend their daytime rest hours simply on the ground, females are more cautious and prefer small shelters. At home, a spacious cage with all the amenities is suitable for a hedgehog. In addition to the filler on the floor, you need to place dried grass, straw, and moss in it so that the pet can arrange a nest for itself to its liking. Hibernate Daurian hedgehogs flow earlier than their relatives - in mid-August, less often - in early October. Before this period, it is necessary to feed your pet intensively, and also gradually reduce the temperature in the room where he will spend all this time. The basis of the diet at home consists of various insects and invertebrates. In addition to them, you can give boiled lean meat, chicken, eggs, fish, vegetables, fruits and berries
Chinese	In the natural environment it lives up to 4–6 years; at home it can live a little longer	This species is one of the most unstudied, therefore it is not recommended to keep it as a pet. Body length - 18–26 cm, weight depending on the time of year varies between 600–1100 g	It is known that the hedgehog prefers open spaces, so he is unlikely to like living in a cramped cage. The diet is based on invertebrates, earthworms, and, less commonly, plant fruits. Hibernates in autumn, is thermophilic and does not tolerate high humidity.
Amur, or Far Eastern	IN natural environment can live 5 years, at home - 7–8	This is a rare, small species and little studied. Body length reaches 35 cm, tail - no more than 5 cm, weight does not exceed 1092 g	Does not like direct sunlight and drafts; in cloudy weather it can be active all day. It is better to place a secluded dwelling on the floor in a dry room with an air temperature of about 20 degrees. The basis of nutrition consists of earthworms and other soil invertebrates, less often small terrestrial vertebrates and plant fruits. In October, with the onset of cold weather, it goes into hibernation, choosing dry shelters with a thick layer of leaf litter or rotting stumps and tree bark. In order for a hedgehog to get enough sleep at home, you should prepare such a “nest” for it, feed it heavily and gradually reduce the temperature in the room
Eastern European, or white-breasted	Hedgehogs in natural conditions They live short lives, on average 6 years, because they have many natural enemies. In captivity they can live up to 10 years	The body length of the Eastern European hedgehog reaches 35 cm, the tail - 3.9 cm. The hedgehog weighs from 240 g during the mating season, up to 1250 g - before hibernation	If the body weight before the sleepy period does not reach 600–700 g, then in the spring the pet simply will not wake up. This should be taken into account when keeping a white-breasted animal. Diet includes: snails, slugs, earthworms, woodlice and beetles, berries (strawberries, wild strawberries, raspberries and mulberries), acorns, moss and mushrooms. Prefers to live indoors with an average air temperature of 18–20 degrees. In this species, females build nests 20–30 cm long and 15–20 cm wide to produce offspring, and place them in bushes, under hummocks and stones. At home, it is advisable to equip the hedgehog with a spacious enclosure with a small closed house inside, where he could hide from prying eyes
European, or ordinary	In nature it can live 6–8 years; care at home can increase its lifespan to 10 years and even a little more.	This species is small in size. Body length reaches 27 cm, weight from 800 g, in the autumn-winter period, when the animal hibernates, maybe 1200 g	When keeping at home, it should be taken into account that the hedgehog must sleep and eat heavily before it, otherwise this will negatively affect its health. These hedgehogs huddle in numerous (usually up to 10 pieces) nests built from dry leaves, dust and moss, and also freely occupy empty rodent holes. At home, they need a spacious enclosure with a floor covered with any soft material, where one or two closed houses will be located so that the pet can rest away from noise, drafts and direct sunlight. The room temperature should be kept between 20 and 27 degrees. Goes to sleep at 10 degrees
Apodal	The expected lifespan in nature is the same as that of other representatives eared hedgehogs: on average 3–4 years	It is considered an almost extinct species. It is known that the body length of the bare-bellied hedgehog does not exceed 27 cm, and its weight is 400 grams	Not found as a pet
Indian	In nature average duration life is 8 years, and in captivity - over 10	The species is rare and poorly studied, so it is not very suitable as a pet. The Indian hedgehog weighs about 300–400 g, with a body length of up to 15–23 cm. This hedgehog is attached to one place of residence and spends almost its entire life in a chosen area	At home, its enclosure should not be moved throughout the entire period of the pet’s existence. During the day, hedgehogs go to sleep in their holes, which they dig themselves to a depth of 40–50 cm, or occupy and equip abandoned rodent homes. Therefore, you need to place a box of sand in the enclosure so that your pet can dig in it. The diet is not much different from the diet of other hedgehogs. Feed should include a variety of insects, worms, slugs, rats, mice, chickens, eggs, lizards
Collared	In natural conditions they live up to 3–4 years due to numerous natural enemies. In captivity they live up to 7	The body length of an adult hedgehog is 14–17.5 cm, the tail is 19–23 mm. Weight reaches 500 g	These animals are solitary by nature, therefore they will not exist together with other pets. The diet of such hedgehogs does not differ from the diet of other representatives of the species: invertebrate insects are mainly ants and beetles, as well as larvae. Sometimes they eat plant seeds and berries. Vertebrate lizards and rodents can be used as food, but not often. They settle in well in spacious enclosures, where it is imperative to equip a box with sand, since these hedgehogs love to dig holes for themselves.
Dark-spined (long-spined or hairless)	In the natural environment they can live up to 5 years, at home - up to 8	The largest representatives of this group. Their weight reaches 700–900 g, and their body length is 226–272 mm	Hedgehogs lead a secretive, solitary lifestyle. They prefer to dig holes up to 1-1.5 m deep with several exits. Therefore, the enclosure should contain not only a closed house, but also a box with sand so that the pet does not lose its instincts. In the northern part of its range, the bald hedgehog hibernates for the winter at a temperature of approximately 10–12 degrees, and at home this pet need should be taken into account. The diet must include pasture pests: large beetles (especially darkling beetles), locusts, cicadas, ground beetles, click beetles, weevils, etc. They can eat up to 110 pieces of this food per day
Eared	The long-eared life expectancy in nature is 4 years, at home - 6–8 years with good maintenance	The body length of this representative of the group is from 12 to 27 cm, the tail is from 1 to 5 cm. Weight in nature varies from 250 to 400 g, and in captivity a pregnant female can reach 650 g	The room temperature should be maintained at about 23 degrees. But these hedgehogs are able to tolerate higher temperatures, since they are quite resistant to overheating. To keep it, you need to purchase a spacious cage or box (more than 70 cm in length), and cover the floor with clean sand or sawdust. Place a wooden house in the home so that the animal has a place for privacy. It is preferable to create more shelters (tunnels, caves). Organize daily walks in the fresh air. Adults are able to survive for a long time without water and food, in artificial conditions for up to 10 weeks. However, you should not experiment with the animal’s nutrition. The hedgehog willingly eats not only insects, but also poultry meat, raw beef, boiled fish, quail eggs, and less often fruits, berries, vegetables and cottage cheese
Ethiopian	In the wild they live for about 10 years, at home the allotted period can be significantly increased	The weight of this animal is only 400–700 g, body length ranges from 15 to 25 cm. These are heat-loving animals, and they cannot tolerate low temperatures. The natural diet of Ethiopian hedgehogs includes scorpions, ants, termites, locusts, beetles and even snakes, to whose poison it is resistant	Colds and pneumonia in them are practically untreatable, so the pet’s house should be kept in a hot room with an air temperature of at least 25 degrees, away from open windows and drafts. There is another option for keeping a pet - you can simply place it in a room where it chooses a place for itself. Due to his exotic diet, feeding him the same food is problematic, so you can stick to general recommendations specialists. This type of hedgehog hibernates in the summer rather than in the winter when temperatures get too hot. This condition allows the body to slow down the metabolism and helps to survive the dry period of the year. At home, a hedgehog may not sleep

2. You should not exclude such a favorite delicacy of hedgehogs as insects from the diet. It is advisable to purchase these treats in specialized stores, since catching insects in the field on your own is very risky; they can be poisoned by pesticides.

3. Vegetables, berries, fruits, freshly squeezed juices rich in vitamins and fiber are an important component for feeding your pet. The animals prefer apples, carrots, cabbage, and are tolerant of zucchini.

4. You can include various boiled cereals, such as buckwheat and rice, in your daily food. They are mixed with minced meat.

5. Hedgehogs love to eat chicken and quail eggs(both raw and cooked are suitable).

6. Occasionally they can eat premium industrial dry food. They must contain at least 30% animal protein, but fat - no more than 14%. Components such as corn, potatoes, sugar and starch are also prohibited.

Contrary to popular belief, hedgehogsit is forbiddengive milk. It leads tovariousdisorders digestive system. Fresh purified water should be used for drinking.

Organization of a healthy lifestyle and sleep schedule

In order for your pet to feel as comfortable as possible at home, he needs to create a natural daily routine. These mammals are most active at night, and attempts to switch the hedgehog to daytime wakefulness will certainly affect its health.

It should be remembered that in nature, hedgehogs usually cover the entrance to their burrows with leaves and moss and hibernate, which lasts from October to April. If you ignore this aspect of your pet’s life, you can lose it in the spring - the animal will simply die.

In order for the rest period to pass according to all the rules, it is necessary to maintain a certain temperature in the wintering room; the air should not warm up above +5 degrees, because in a warmer room the hedgehog will not be able to sleep normally. On the eve of hibernation, it is necessary to provide the pet with enhanced nutrition so that by winter it accumulates enough useful substances.

Physiologically, winter sleep is necessary only for ordinary forest hedgehogs"European" origin. Artificially bred breeds (for example, African dwarf) do not need this at all.