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Hedgehog
European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus are nocturnal foragers, trundling through the undergrowth in search of insects, slugs and earthworms.
They do not have a permanent nest in summer, but instead build temporary structures for short-term stays. Hedgerows are hugely important for nesting, and they have also been observed in old rabbit burrows, sheds and stonewalls. Hedgehogs hibernate in winter, using a more permanent nest or ‘hibernaculum’, however some may still move occasionally. Hibernation is followed by the breeding season, with females having litters of three-six young, known as hoglets. The hoglets stay with the mother for six weeks and undergo the process of quilling, whereby their baby spines fall out to be replaced with adult spines.