Hibernation:
Hedgehogs in Britain hibernate,for a lesser or greater amount of time,depending on the climate,and the severity of the weather. Generally speaking,Hedgehogs may begin to hibernate in November,and not emerge for good until early March. As Hedgehogs may breed from March until October,some young will have a very short time in which to put on the reserves of fat required to survive the winter.
 |
This young Hedgehog(left)certainly wouldn`t survive hibernation,while this one(right)will soon be well on the way to the minimum hibernation weight. |
 |
A Hedgehog weighing less than 650 grammes would be unlikely to survive hibernation,and these late-born young should be taken indoors and fed over the winter.Hibernation will take place in a nest of grasses and leaves, perhaps in dense cover,under a bush,or even in a shed or outbuilding.During hibernation a hedgehog`s heartbeat may drop from 300 beats a minute,to around 20,and it`s body temperature may drop to around 10 degrees centigrade. Far from sleeping deeply for the entire period,hedgehogs may wake from time to time,lying quietly in the nest,or may even leave the nest on warmer days throughout the winter.
 |
Why do Hedgehogs hibernate?
Very few British mammals hibernate,so what is it that requires a Hedgehog to sleep for anything up to 5 months of the year?It would be extremely hard for a small animal like the Hedgehog to survive the winter without hibernating.It`s main food source,insects and invertebrates is virtually non-existant
throughout winter,and it would be a constant battle against the elements,just to survive.By hibernating,the Hedgehog is able to survive the winter,almost in `suspended animation`,emerging when the weather warms up,and food becomes easier to find.Even so,many Hedgehogs die during the winter,and those that do survive will lose a large a high percentage of their body weight.