- Lifespan
- 2–5 years in the wild; up to 10 years in captivity
- Size & Weight
- 20–27 cm body length; 750–1,200 g
- Habitat
- Gardens, hedgerows, grassland, and woodland edges with leaf litter and dense vegetation for shelter and foraging.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout mainland Britain and Wales; absent from Ireland. Resident year-round, though activity levels decline significantly in winter.
- Diet
- Primarily invertebrates including beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, and slugs; also eats small vertebrates, carrion, and plant matter opportunistically.
- Prey
- Beetles, earthworms, caterpillars, slugs, snails, frogs, and small lizards
- Predators
- Badgers, foxes, dogs, and ground-nesting birds of prey; cars are a significant cause of mortality
- Mating Season
- April to August, with a peak in May and June
- Breeding
- Single litter per year (rarely two); 3–4 young per litter; gestation approximately 35 days; young weaned at 4–5 weeks
- Behaviour
- Primarily nocturnal and solitary. Hedgehogs roll into a tight ball when threatened, with spines protecting the soft underside. They undergo torpor (reduced activity) in winter rather than true hibernation, requiring adequate shelter and body condition.