Learn all about hedgehogs

The west European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus

These pages cover everything you could ever want to know about the hedgehog in Britain, including their distribution, behaviour, ecology and the threats that they face.

The west European hedgehog (scientific name Erinaceus europaeus) is one of about 19 hedgehog species worldwide and unmistakable as Britain’s only spiny mammal. Their highly specialised coat contains 5-7,000 creamy and brown spines and hangs around their body in a loose ‘skirt’, concealing greyish fur on their underside, surprisingly long legs and a short tail.

As distant relatives of shrews, hedgehogs have changed little in the past 15 million years. They are generalists that can be found across a wide range of rural and urban habitats, although they are absent from moors, coniferous plantations, wetlands and some islands. 

There’s lots of information on our site about hedgehogs, but to find out even more check out the following:

Web

European hedgehog on Wikipedia

European hedgehog Wildlife Trusts page

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society

People’s Trust for Endangered Species

Books

Ghosts in the Hedgerow by Tom Moorhouse. Penguin. Published in 2023. Check out our review.

The Hedgehog Book by Hugh Warwick. Graffeg. Published in 2020. Check out our review.

The New Hedgehog Book by Pat Morris. Illustrated by Guy Troughton. Part of the British Natural History Collection by Whittet Books. Published in 2006.

A Prickly Affair: The Charm of the Hedgehog by Hugh Warwick. Penguin. Published in 2010.

Hedgehogs by Nigel Reeve. T & AD Poyser Ltd., London. Published in 1994.

(PTES and BHPS are not responsible for the contents of any other sites listed.  Nor does the inclusion of a link imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by either charity.)