Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Cornwall

CORNWALL

Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Cornwall

Remember, remember the fifth of November…and lots of hibernating hedgehogs! Ensure their winter bed doesn't go up in smoke this year by following a few of The Wildlife Trusts' simple guidelines. Bonfire Night provides explosive entertainment for us but is potentially lethal for hedgehogs. Hedgehogs start preparing for hibernation around early November when temperatures regularly drop below 16 deg C. They start searching for twigs, leaves and dry grass to build a cosy winter nest, and often move to new sites at least once during winter. To a sleepy hedgehog a ready-made nest, such as a compost heap or pile of timber, seems ideal and your newly built bonfire will look like the perfect place to bed down.

Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging all bonfire organisers to include a simple hedgehog check in their routine safety procedures. Try and build the bonfire as close to the night as possible, giving little chance for any hedgehogs to move in. Before lighting, search the bonfire for hibernating creatures with a torch and make sure it is clear. Move any hedgehogs found to a ready-made hedgehog box or somewhere dry and safe away from the fire. Building simple hedgehog boxes before the night will encourage hedgehogs to crawl into these rather than the bonfire. Now you can begin the blaze and enjoy the fireworks safe in the knowledge that our prickly pals are still sleeping soundly.

So make sure it's only the Guy you'll be burning this November and have a brilliant Bonfire Night!

Did you know?

The hedgehog is the only British spine-covered mammal (up to 7,000 spines), giving it formidable protection when it curls into a ball.
The hedgehog is a nocturnal creature, using its strong sense of smell to guide it through the dark, often as far as 2 miles per night. They can detect their prey up to 3cm deep under the soil.
Feeding on at least 100 invertebrates a night, a hedgehog can weigh up to 1.5kg on a greatly varied diet that includes beetles, caterpillars, slugs, snails, earthworms, cereals and even pet food.
Hedgehogs are great friends to gardeners, and naturally control populations of slugs and snails.
Hibernating between November and early April, the hedgehog slows its body functions down considerably, thus helping it to conserve energy. Heartbeats decrease from 190bpm to 20bpm, while body temperature drops from 35 deg C to 10 deg C.
Hedgehogs often get drowned in ponds where the banks are to steep for them to get out if they stumble in.
Gardeners can help hedgehogs by piling autumn leaves in undisturbed areas, thus providing excellent winter nests, and even leaving out snacks such as pet food with crushed dog biscuits or muesli and a small amount of vegetable leftovers for a well-balanced diet. Try not to feed hedgehogs bread or milk, as this can be bad for them.

Hedgehogs in Cornwall are very under-recorded so don't forget to send us any records you have.

For more details about recording hedgehogs call our Wildlife Information Officer, Nic Harrison-White, on (01872) 273939 or our Mammal Group contact, Kate Stokes, on (01872) 245514.

Emergency contacts for hedgehogs in trouble

RSPCA on 0300 123 4999
British Hedgehog Preservation Society on (01584) 890801 (Answer phone with details of local emergency contacts)
Cornwall Hedgehog Rescue and Rehabilitation on (01326) 251033

Classification:

Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Insectivorea
Family	Erinaceidae
Species	Erinaceus europaeus
Average length	150-300mm
Life span	Hedgehogs can live up to 10 years, but this is exceptional - over half die before their first birthday. The average life expectancy is around 2-3 years.