Overview

The hedgehog is one of the UK's most beloved mammals — a snuffling, spiny ball that emerges after dark to patrol lawns and hedgerows for slugs, beetles, and worms. For many British collectors, a hedgehog sighting feels like a small miracle: they're there, but easy to miss if you're not out at the right hour.

Once common in almost every garden, hedgehogs have declined by half or more in rural areas since the turn of the century — road deaths, tidy fencing, and pesticide use all take a toll. Finding one now earns a rare discovery in Catch'Um, and a reminder to leave gaps in garden fences and log piles for them to nest.

Habitat

European hedgehogs live in gardens, parks, farmland, and woodland edge across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They need connected green space — hedgerows, compost heaps, and quiet corners to nest — and hunt at night across lawns and leaf litter within territories of one to two kilometres.

Countries found

Hedgehog in United Kingdom

Interesting facts

01
A hedgehog has around 5,000 spines, each lasting about a year before being replaced.
02
They curl into a tight ball when threatened — spines outward, face and belly protected.
03
Hedgehogs can run surprisingly fast — up to 2 metres per second in short bursts.
04
They hibernate through winter, slowing their heartbeat from 190 beats per minute to around 20.
05
Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets; a litter usually has four to five.
06
They are largely immune to adder venom — one of the few predators that can eat them safely.

Conservation status

VU — Vulnerable

The European hedgehog is Vulnerable in the UK and declining across much of western Europe. Habitat fragmentation, roads, and loss of insect prey are the main drivers — garden-friendly practices and hedgehog highways between plots can help local populations.