Erinaceus europaeus

Overview

The Natural History Museum describes brown and cream spines over the back and a furred face. Hedgehogs use woodland edges, hedgerows, meadows, gardens and suburbs. Intensively farmed land offers them fewer feeding opportunities.

Winter is spent in hibernation, although animals may wake, move or rebuild their shelters. In the UK, breeding commonly runs from April to September, and mothers raise litters of about four or five alone.

Morris (1973) found winter nests built mainly from selected dry leaves, compacted into weatherproof structures held by surrounding vegetation. Construction was linked to temperature. Nests under brambles lasted longer, some beyond a year. Most were occupied for a month or less and a few for up to six months. New nests appeared even in midwinter, and sharing was rare.

Origins & earliest records

First description and family placement were not verified in the supplied sources.

Evidence & interpretation

One museum public account and one peer-reviewed field study of winter nests.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

   Hayley Dunning · n.d.

   Selected bibliography; Natural History Museum account of appearance, habitat and lifestyle.

2. 02

   Winter nests of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.)

   Morris · 1973

   Selected bibliography; Oecologia 11:299–313, DOI 10.1007/BF00345702.

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

Source note: Ranked groups in the NCBI Taxonomy snapshot accessed 7 October 2026; these are not identified direct ancestors. NCBI provides a database classification rather than an independent nomenclatural authority.

1. domainEukaryota
2. kingdomMetazoa
3. phylumChordata
4. classMammalia
5. orderEulipotyphla
6. familyErinaceidae
7. genusErinaceus
8. speciesErinaceus europaeus

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Museum accountEuropean hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)Research access: 2026-10-06
2. Peer-reviewed articleWinter nests of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.)Research access: 2026-10-06
3. Scientific classification referenceNCBI Taxonomy: Erinaceus europaeusResearch access: 2026-10-07

Image credits

A black side-view hedgehog silhouette with a pointed snout, low feet and a spiny rounded back.

Attributed silhouette illustration labelled Erinaceus europaeus by the source; it shows an outline, without colour or diagnostic detail.