In the winter, species such as Desert hedgehog and the Four-toed hedgehog find surviving difficult. Books. It is most commonly spotted in parks and gardens, where bushes and hedges provide the perfect daytime getaway, and insect-rich lawns and flowerbeds make excellent feeding grounds at dusk. Many potential predators are repelled by its spines, but predation does occur. Bigger sized species such as the European hedgehog tend to have relatively higher lifespans than the smaller species. The New Hedgehog Book by Pat Morris. In the wild they appear to live up to 7-8 years. Typically, pet hedgehogs live between 3-6 years, although the averages can span anywhere between 2-8 years. European hedgehog on wikipedia. The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is commonly associated with humans in rural, suburban, and urban habitats.Its native range spans from Ireland, Great Britain, southern Scandinavia, and Western Europe to the Czech Republic, where its range overlaps with that of the Northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus).In addition to its native range, E. europaeus was … From what I have read, this is already far better than the average of 1-3 years in the wild (though this is due more to predation, disease, and other environmental factors than to old age). The males emerge first, 3 to 4 weeks prior to the females, and will expand their home range in the mating season to increase their chances of finding a female to mate with. European Hedgehog Activity. Pet hedgehogs are quiet, … If alarmed, the animal will roll into a ball to protect itself. Life history traits (averages) European hedgehog Wildlife Online page.
Published in 2006. Illustrated by Guy Troughton. European hedgehogs are polygynandrous, males and females having multiple mates each season (promiscuous). How long do hedgehogs live? The African pygmy hedgehog or four-toed hedgehog is the smallest of the hedgehog species and is the species often sold for the pet trade. The average lifespan of a hedgehog is 2-3 years. European Hedgehogs should never be removed from the wild and kept as a pet. The European Hedgehog, also known as the West European Hedgehog, Brown-breasted Hedgehog, Common Hedgehog, or simply Hedgehog, is one of the 17 hedgehog species, and is widely spread across their geographical range.They are often kept as pets because of their ‘adorable’ looks, as also, their natural habit of eating a wide variety of garden pests. Found only in certain parts of the Northern and Western European countries such as France, UK, Italy, and Spain, the European hedgehog is also known as the common hedgehog.