Revealing the secret life of a hedgehog

In recent years, the hedgehog population has been decreasing. In 2021, they were placed on the Red List. Hedgehogs are endangered species in Norway and several other European countries.

“We were surprised that hedgehogs did not retreat into the forest, but instead chose to build nests near the gardens and people’s homes. However, when it’s time to hibernate, they prefer to build nests under the roots of large trees in the forest,” says zoologist Biede Strom Johansen (UIA).

In a 2023 study published in Animals, Johansen and her research group followed the lives of hedgehogs in the Christian and city.

“We tracked nine hedgehogs, but they’re not exactly a group. They don’t live in the herd. Like most other mammals, hedgehogs live a lonely life and have their own home base to spend the night.”

The lonely Wanderer

“There are very few animals in the herd. I think lions and wolves live in the herd because they are so popular on television,” the zoologist says.

She points out that, as scientists say, Mutrids are either lonely creatures or lonely.

“Mammals usually wander alone. Solitary animals only meet when mating and raising young. For female hedgehogs, this means four to six intense weeks with her offspring,” says Johansen.

Urban fieldwork

The new study included fieldwork day and night. A UIA Bachelor’s Degree handled the night work. However, during the day, students also tracked down resting and sleeping hedgehogs.

From August to November, just before hibernation, they monitored the lives of nine hedgehogs near Agder University in Christians and. The university is located in a residential area close to the forests and the popular recreational area of ​​Jegersburg.

A radio transmitter was attached to the hedgehog. Six of them held a transmitter long enough to be included in the study.

I wake up in the evening

Hedgehogs are nocturnal. In the evening, they come back to life. Around 11pm, they are on their way. That’s when they go out to find food.

From our perspective, Hedgehogs are not loud about the menu. Earthworms and centipedes are being eaten up. This is a typical fare for them.

The beetles, slugs and larvae are also gnaw-gnaw-gnaw.

Eggs and berries, yum yum. Dead birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles – yum.

You may think they can tolerate anything. But they can’t. Zoologists warn: “When they come across it they drink milk, which causes green, slimy diarrhea and makes them very sick.”

Don’t give them milk

“Don’t give milk to hedgehogs. Leave water instead,” the researcher says.

She reminds me that hedgehogs, badgers, squirrels, birds and all other animals are grateful to have water in their bowls. Summers can be dry and sunny. It can pass for 2-3 months without rain.

“This is when food becomes rare for many animals. Earthworms and slugs retreat underground to envelop themselves. They don’t appear at all. These animals will drain water and will help rule out dry cats and dog food.

They go home in the morning

For most hedgehogs, about 3 in the morning was sufficient. However, some people go out until 5 or 6am. They then go back home and go to sleep.

Kristiansand and the hedgehogs of this new study were usually in bed by the age of five.

Sometimes nightlife is more than food. At that time of year, hedgehogs may be looking for companions.

“They mate in the spring and can have up to 11 young people, but four or five are more common,” says Johansen.

Exhausted mother of hedgehog

When he comes across a hedgehog during the day, it’s a very exhausted mother looking for food. She is hungry because she is young.

About four weeks later, the young people begin chasing their mother outside the nest in search of food. Now it progresses quickly. Another week or two, and the young people feel ready to dodge for themselves. After that, they embark on their own.

They leave their mother and find their place. You may find a spot under the terrace of your next home. Another finds a wood pile in another neighbor’s garage. There, they build their own nests.

They have multiple places to live

Hedgehogs have three types of houses and nests.

They have a simple summer nest that lives alone. They use sturdy skin nests that are more sturdy than their mothers stay with their offspring. And in winter there is a durable hibernation nest that sleeps throughout the winter.

In their nest, they can rest and sleep. They can hide and recover. Until darkness.

They often have several nests at the same time. Usually about 10. They probably choose one over the next, simply because they are nearby.

It’s convenient to have hideouts everywhere when they’re sleepy. They may also need to quickly find shelter, zoologists explain.

28 nests of six hedgehogs

Six hedgehogs from the area around the Christian and university had a total of 28 nests.

The 16 of the nests were under or inside buildings such as garages, verandas and terraces.

The 12 nests were found in gardens and other areas with hedges, bushes and forests. Most of the nests were made of grass and leaves.

“People’s Garden often has a variety of vegetation, including lawns, flowers, hedges, and grass and stones under the terrace. It’s a suitable habitat for hedgehogs. Here, if you’re threatened, you can hide in your nests looking for food,” says Johansen.

The men accounted for 18 of the 28 nests. There were ten women living there. Each hedgehog switched the nest 0-14 times while the students were monitoring. Three women changed the nest 15 times. Four men changed the nest 21 times. In total, six hedgehogs changed their nests 36 times.

However, none of them used another hedgehog nest.

They are full of parasites

They generally do not share nests. Hedgehogs are full of parasites and all kinds of creatures. Researchers believe this is why they don’t share the nest.

“These hedgehogs are walking through ecosystems and would prefer to be parasite-free. Hedgehogs can carry fungi that can infect humans when treated without gloves.

Hedgehog is also a food

Some consider eating hedgehogs. That’s a shame for hedgehogs. Sadly, hedgehogs don’t have very fast legs. It’s slow to try and speed up.

When threatened by foxes or cats, they roll into a ball and extend their spine outwards. Researchers say things like these stories can happen based on actual events.

Badgers take a walk across the grass. The Hedgehog should have run for its lifespan, but should stay still. It curls up into the ball and extends the spine outwards.

Badgers didn’t bother much. He has his own trick and spins the ball on his spine. The badger grabs the ventral gap and pulls out the hedgehog. And that’s the end of the story.

Foxes are more patient. He lies down a little away from the hedgehog and waits. He waits until the hedgehog feels safe. The small animal’s nose then peers through the spines. I’m looking forward to seeing you. Then the fox attacks. And there are no more hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs enter hibernation

“People believed in hibernating during the winter, but they don’t. Only small animals like hedgehogs and bats really hibernate,” the researchers say.

Bears and badgers tend to sleep during the winter, but it is a light sleep and not a real hibernation. Their bodies are a little too big to lower their temperatures enough to enter hibernation, zoologists explain.

“Hedgehogs, on the other hand, enter hibernation. It’s best for them if they can lie under the snow. The problem is snow-free frost,” she says.

Hedgehogs sleep during the winter, but wake up about every 11 days to make sure their nest is intact.

“One theory suggests that when you enter a new hibernation period, you need to wake up to enter deep REM sleep,” says Johansen.

Prefers large trees and robust winter nests

Around September, the hedgehog appears to be starting to prepare for winter.

They prepare to hibernate. Then you need a more permanent nest. They need a nest that can withstand winter.

An important finding in this study is that hedgehogs prefer to live under large trees near the roots of pine and deciduous trees.

“They wanted bushes around the place they slept under the roots of the tree. And they were able to bring in moss, leaf blades, long grass stems, and nests and seal them from the entrance. This prevents wildlife from pulling them out.