European Hedgehog: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Little Mammals · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Up to 6,000 brown and white spines cover most of this hedgehog's body, which makes it look brownish from afar.
2. Babies are born blind, with tiny spines. A second set starts growing within 36 hours, and at 11 days old they can already curl up into a ball.
3. Rare 'blonde' hedgehogs have cream spines and black eyes. On the island of Alderney, about 25% of hedgehogs are thought to be blonde.
4. Out mostly at night, it walks in a hesitant way, often pausing to sniff the air. It may hibernate in winter, but most wake at least once to move nest.
5. Hedgehogs taken to New Zealand found milder winters there. They hibernate for only three months a year, and in the north many skip it entirely.

The quiz

1. Up to how many spines cover a European hedgehog?

• About 60
• About 600
• Up to 6,000 (correct)
• About 600,000

Up to 6,000 brown and white spines cover most of its body.

2. By what age can baby hedgehogs roll into a ball?

• By 11 days (correct)
• At 6 months
• At 2 years
• Never

By 11 days old, the young can roll into a ball.

3. On Alderney, what share of hedgehogs are thought to be 'blonde'?

• None
• All of them
• About 90%
• About 25% (correct)

Around 25% of Alderney's hedgehogs are thought to be blonde.

4. What does a European hedgehog often do as it walks?

• Hops like a rabbit
• Stops to sniff the air (correct)
• Sings to its family
• Runs in a straight line without stopping

It has a hesitant walk and often stops to smell the air.

5. How do many hedgehogs in northern New Zealand spend the winter?

• They hibernate for nine months
• They move into the treetops
• They do not hibernate at all (correct)
• They sleep all summer instead

With mild winters, many hedgehogs in northern New Zealand skip hibernation.

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