Hedgehog

Name: Hedgehog

Scientific name: Erinaceus europaeus

Category: Mammals

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: About 25cm long and famously covered in spines, the Hedgehog must be one of the most familiar and most often seen of Britain's wild mammals. Most common in parks and gardens, where the mixture of bushes for hiding in during the day and invertebrate-rich lawns and flower beds make for the perfect home. Hedgehogs eat many invertebrates, as well as amphibians, birds eggs and anything else they can catch: they particularly like slugs and earthworms, as well as big crunchy beetles.

How to identify: A unique and unmistakeable animal. Also look for medium-sized, black droppings with bits of beetles and other invertebrates in, often found on the lawn.

Where: Widespread, found throughout the country except for some Scottish Islands.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 40
• Agility: 30
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 90
• Traveller: 20

Fantastic fact: Hedgehogs famously roll into a ball of spines when disturbed.

Photograph credit: Wildstock