What Hedgehogs Eat and What Hedgehogs Consume?
Hedgehogs are small but have fascinated people around the world. Hedgehogs are small spiny mammals who can roll up into a ball in an unusual way when scared. Hedgehogs are unable to escape predators because of their deadly appearance. This article will cover the various predators of hedgehogs as well as their feeding habits.
What Eats Hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs are small, but they face many natural threats which could lead to their extinction. These facts are important for both conservation and to protect them from these threats.
Dogs
Domestic dogs can be a danger to young piglets. Many dogs will be deterred from attacking by the spines; therefore, they are not hurt. However, some dogs may make the same mistake repeatedly until they learn its nature.
Owls
Large owls, such as the Eurasian Eagle Owl, are also known to eat hedgehogs. Both owling and hedgehog-eating occur at night, as these creatures are nocturnal. Silent flying by an owl is a good thing for hedgehogs, as they don’t have any warning and can’t curl into a ball to defend themselves.
Foxes
Foxes used to also prey on hedgehogs. However, the spikes of old hedges protect them from being eaten by animals until they die naturally, after several years. Foxes are also known to attack hedgehog young, particularly hoglets.
Researchers studying urban foxes’ ecology suggest that they may be eating road-kill remnants, including dead or dying mammal animals.
Mustelids
Ferrets, weasels and other members of Mustelidae are also predators of hedgehogs. Research in New Zealand and Greece has revealed that wild ferrets rely heavily on hedgehogs as food.
It is important to note that predators cannot explain the recent decline in hedgehog populations. The decline in hedgehog numbers has been accelerated by pollution, land clearing, and agrochemicals, among other factors, including habitat loss and intensification.
Mongooses
Indian hedgehogs are well known to fear the Indian grey mongoose. As unlikely as it seems, they can attack cobras. They may, for example, pick up a hedgehog and toss it against something hard in an attempt to break the spines of the animal and reveal its soft underbelly.
Badgers
Hedgehogs are often considered to be the main predators of badgers. Hedgehogs are strong enough to overcome the badgers’ spiky defences. Badgers and hedgehogs have a “symmetric intraguild relationship”. They can be affected by them in several ways, including competition for food, direct predation or avoidance behaviour.
Even though adult hedgehogs have spines that can deter foxes, it’s not uncommon for foxes to prey on them. Hoglets, or baby hedgehogs, may make easy prey for the foxes. Urban foxes are also known to feed on road-killed hedgehogs and other dead animals.
What Do Hedgehogs Eat?
Hedgehogs are always a marvel to watch when it comes to their feeding habits. Hedgehogs are opportunistic, omnivorous omnivores who can eat many different foods.
Fruits and Vegetables
Hedgehogs do not eat only meat; they also consume fruits and vegetables. Some of the best include:
- Fruits: A few occasional treats such as apples, bananas or berries would not harm. Dried fruits are not recommended.
- Vegetables – Fresh tomatoes, cooked squash, green beans and fresh beans could all be part of a hedgehog diet.
These plant-based foods are consumed by hedgies, but they only make up a small portion of the natural diet. These foods should be used sparingly and as snacks, rather than being a main food source.
Insects, Invertebrates
In their natural habitats, hedgehogs feed primarily on insects and invertebrates. The hedgehog can easily eat these prey species due to its carnivorous tooth and ability to digest chitin, which is the exoskeleton of insects.
Hedgehogs eat a variety of insects and invertebrates, including:
- Mealworms are a good source of chitin, and live or freeze-dried worms stimulate the mind by having them work to catch them.
- Waxworms are a good alternative to mealworms. They contain more fat than mealworms but less chitin.
- Crickets: Available as either live or freeze-dried crickets, they usually contain some chitin. They are a great way to exercise the mind of pet hedgehog owners. Before feeding the crickets to your hedgehog, you should “gut-load” them with healthy food.
- The wild hedgehog also eats earthworms and millipedes as well as beetles. This helps to add more nutrients while diversifying the diet.
As they search through the underbrush for their next meal, hedgehogs use their keen senses of smell and sound to locate and capture prey.
Carrion and Eggs
Hedgehogs also eat bird eggs and carrion, which are dead animals. In addition to eating insects and other invertebrates, hedgehogs also eat bird eggs. They are not the main food source for hedgehogs, but they can include them when there is a lack of other resources.
Supplemental Foods
Hedgehogs can eat supplementary foods in addition to their natural diet:
- Premium cat kibble. Although it is not a replacement for a naturally balanced diet, cat kibble can be used as an alternative to ensure that the hedgehog gets a variety of nutrients.
- Hard-boiled or scrambled eggs are a good source of protein for a hedgehog.
- Bone broth or hot water: To ensure that your hedgehog is getting enough moisture, you can hydrate the kibble and other dry food by using warm water or bone broth.
Since they are so particular about their food, introducing new foods should be done slowly while watching how they react. Sudden changes to their diet could cause health issues or digestive problems.
Considerations for Feeding
Here are some things to consider when feeding a hedgehog.
- Variety: Include insects, worms, and other small creatures in your pet’s diet to meet all of their nutritional needs.
- Hedgehogs should be fed every 2 days or even more often. Regular feeding is good for their health.
- Hydration is important, especially in hot weather. A shallow dish with clean water placed out can help save many hedgehogs’ lives.
- Avoid these foods: Dairy products, dried fruits, heavily spiced and processed food. Pet hedgehogs cannot digest lactose and can’t tolerate large amounts of sugar. This could cause obesity and diabetes.
Knowing what foods are most appealing to hedgehogs and other wild animals, those who keep them as pets can ensure their well-being while helping preserve this incredible species.
The conclusion of the article is:
Hedgehogs play an important role in the ecosystems they inhabit. They are fascinating and unique. In addition to the threats posed by these predators and others such as foxes and dogs, owls mongooses and mustelids among others, humans have also exacerbated them through agricultural practices and habitat loss.
Understanding hedgehogs’ diverse diets is crucial for their care and preservation. It is primarily made up of insects, other invertebrates, eggs, carrion and fruits and vegetables. We can help preserve these amazing animals by providing a diversified diet that is well-balanced, and habitats which are easily accessible while still keeping them safe.
