HEDGEHOG GRÁINNEOG

There are 17 species of hedgehog. The species found in Ireland is The Western European Hedgehog.

The hedgehog is a medium-sized insectivore. They eat moth larvae, earwigs, beetles, spiders, harvestman, caterpillars, as well as slugs and earthworms. YUMMY!

MENU

HABITAT HEDGEROW WOODLAND MEADOW GARDEN

DISTRIBUTION The hedgehog is widespread throughout Ireland but may be locally absent in some parts of the west.

Hedgehogs are strongly nocturnal; They rest up by day in nest sites. NOCTURNAL CREATURES Hedgehogs are strongly nocturnal; animals occasionally seen by day are usually ill or have been disturbed from their daytime refuge. They rest up by day in nest sites.

THE PRICKLY HEDGEHOG! The spines of a hedgehog are stiff hollow hair. They are not poisonous or barbed. They cannot be easily removed. They fall out naturally when a hedgehog sheds its baby spines and grows adult spines a process called quilling. Hedgehogs have about 5,000 to 6,500 spines at any one time. Most hedgehog species will roll into a tight ball if threatened, making it hard for its attacker to get past the spiky defences.

LIFECYCLE *Hedgehogs are mammals *Hedgehogs mate soon after waking from hibernation *Gestation lasts from 30-50 days *The babies are called hoglets *There may be 4-6 hoglets in a litter *The mother feeds them milk *They stay with their mother for about 6 weeks *Hedgehogs live for about 4-7 years

HIBERNATION The hedgehog's body tries it's best to conserve as much of the stored body fats as it can. The hedgehog stops being a warm blooded animal. The hedgehog becomes cold to the touch. The hedgehog stops moving. The breathing stops for long periods of time. The heart rate drops to around 20 beats per minute.

Hedgehogs have poor eyesight

Hedgehogs can swim. Hedgehogs can climb. Hedgehogs can run quite quickly.

Hedgehogs are a protected species. CONSERVATION Hedgehogs are a protected species. The number of hedgehogs is in decline due to: habitat loss mainly due to intensive farming traffic mortality poisoning other human activities.

PLEASE BUILD ME A HOME FOR THE WINTER. SAVE THE HEDGEHOG PLEASE BUILD ME A HOME FOR THE WINTER.