European hedgehog: care, reviews, photos. Ontogenesis of the European hedgehog

We know the hedgehogs from childhood. Reading and listening to fairy tales, we get acquainted with these amusing hardworking animals, covered with needles and curling into a ball during the danger. In Russia, the most common European hedgehog. It can often be found among the inhabitants of living corners and even at home as a pet.

Appearance

European Hedgehog - a small animal weighing 700-800 grams, although in autumn and winter, when it hibernates, it can reach 1.2 kg, because it needs to nourish the body at this time. The body length of the hedgehog is 27 cm. Males are slightly larger than the female. The hedgehog has a three-centimeter tail.

A small muzzle is covered with rather rigid fur. The hedgehog has a sharp nose, small black eyes; Ears are almost invisible - they barely look out from under the fur. On short paws, five fingers with fairly sharp claws. Interestingly, the claws are slightly longer on the hind legs than on the forelegs. Hedgehog - a predatory animal, so he has a lot of teeth. Although they are small, but very sharp.

Needles for hedgehogs: what they are

The main distinguishing feature of the hedgehog is his thorns. They are like needles that cover the back and sides of the animal. The cubs have 3000 of them, in the adult the number varies in the region of 5-6 thousand. At the base and end of the spines are white, in the middle - black and brown. Spines periodically change - hedgehogs molt. For a year the animal changes every third needle. Unprotected areas of the body covered with gray stiff hair.

Spread

The habitat of the hedgehog is extensive: the middle band of Russia, the middle band of the Urals and the south of Western Siberia. If we talk about global distribution, then this is the whole of Europe, the Caucasus and Asia Minor. Hedgehogs live in New Zealand. They were brought there in the XIX century, the animals have quite taken root in the local nature and live there until now. But in North America hedgehog not caught on. Its existence there is known only by fossil remains.

Systematics

Known not only the European hedgehog. Taxonomy distinguishes two more besides him: the white-chested (distributed in the more southerly regions) and the Amur. For a long time, all these animals were considered one species, but later they were separated into separate ones. The European hedgehog and the white-breasted can exist together and even produce offspring. This is especially true of areas at the intersection of habitats. Amursky is isolated from the rest in the Southern Primorye. Another species of hedgehog, inhabiting the south of our country, is a long-eared hedgehog. In general, there are 23 species of these animals.

Lifestyle

Hedgehogs - nocturnal animals. They have extensive feeding areas, which are fiercely protected from other individuals. It is noteworthy that they can intersect in males and females, but in two males or two pregnant or lactating females - never. Hedgehogs diligently defend their fodder areas.

Live animals in the nests, built from dry leaves, tritums and moss. The number of nests reaches 10 pieces per habitat. The hedgehogs do not dig burrows, but those who stayed from rodents take pleasure in it. In the afternoon the animals sleep. However, this does not apply to the time when the hedgehog just came out of hibernation. The first weeks it is active and in the afternoon too.

When the average daily temperature reaches 10 degrees, hedgehogs begin to hibernate. As a rule, this happens in September-October, although in some regions it is permissible in August. Hibernation is a very important event for the animal, to which it is necessary to prepare. If the hedgehog does not accumulate enough fat, it will die. Sometimes during hibernation, up to 85% of young animals die. In the past, males fall into hibernation, and later all the young and females that have late broods ate. During hibernation, the heart beats up to 60 times per minute, and breathing slows down to 1 breath per minute.

However, not all hedgehogs sleep throughout the winter: if the temperature regime allows, they can wake up and be for a while sufficiently active. The hedgehog's nest is a bunch of dry leaves, moss and straw. Its bottom is securely lined. Hedgehog buries into the nest and thus sleeps in winter.

The main enemies of the hedgehog are foxes and dogs. In addition to them, ferrets, big owls or badgers are eager to eat. From them the animal hides, curled into a tangle. Being in such a state hedgehog can be a long time.

To hear a clumsy animal in the forest is very simple: during a careless walk he rustles the leaves. In addition, the hedgehog produces snorting sounds, it can represent something similar to sneezing, grunting and clattering of teeth.

Of the senses, the hedgehog is perfectly developed sense of smell and hearing, but the animal does not see very well. Hedgehogs run pretty fast, they can swim.

Food

Hedgehogs are predators. However, the diet of the animal is very diverse. Most often it feeds on various insects and their larvae. Grasshoppers, worms, earwigs, all kinds of beetles - that's his usual diet. In addition, a European hedgehog can engage in a fight with snakes or lizards: he gnaws the prey on the ridge. Sometimes the animal eats fruits, acorns, mushrooms or berries.

It would seem that the hedgehog is very clumsy, but the hunting instinct is developed very well for him. He's a first-class hunter. It can easily catch a mouse, penetrating into its mink, or selflessly fight with a snake, without fear of its poison.

Especially gluttonous hedgehogs in the periods before hibernation and immediately after it. During the night at this time, the animal can eat up to a third of its weight.

Reproduction and ontogeny

The marriage period of hedgehogs lasts until June. As a rule, after mating, the male leaves, and the hedgehog digs a special hole for the brood, or occupies the mink of the rodent. There are times when a hedgehog remains with a family, but they are rare. Approximately in 40-50 days, young fish are born in the hedgehog. The number ranges from 3 to 8. On average five babies are born.

Ontogenesis of the European hedgehog has its own peculiarities. Hedgehogs are born absolutely helpless, blind, without wool and thorns. Needles appear several hours after birth. By the end of the first day the length of thorns is already 9 mm. They are still soft, black or white.

Newborn hedgehogs already know how to fold, although not as tight.

The female feeds offspring with milk for a month, but already at this time brings mink, beetles and other insects into the mink to introduce the kids to adult food.

About a month later she takes herd to the first hunt. The ezhiha is very sensitive to children, protects them from all danger. By autumn the hedgehogs leave the mink of the mother, they build their own nest and accumulate fat for hibernation.

Benefit or harm

The question of whether a European hedgehog is harmful or beneficial, can be considered in two ways. On the one hand, it destroys such useful insects as, for example, bees or earthworms. But the benefits of prickly animals are much greater: hedgehogs save the garden and forest from pests (for example, slugs), as well as from snakes that are deadly to humans (eg vipers).

Hedgehog at home

The European hedgehog is quite an exotic pet. However, he can become a real pet, the same as a cat or a dog. Hedgehogs are easy to train, they can be taught, for example, to stand on their hind legs. They are easily accustomed to going to the toilet in the same place. Unlike ferrets, hedgehogs do not exude an unpleasant smell, they do not gnaw everything like hamsters or guinea pigs. The hedgehog as a pet favorably distinguishes, for example, from a cat that it does not mark an apartment and does not spoil furniture.

Conquer its funny appearance and imaginary businesslike European hedgehog. Reviews of breeders say that animals perfectly get on with other animals, for example, with cats. Unlike the latter, they do not cause allergies. It must be remembered that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, therefore in their habits there is a night vigil. Do not expect them to sleep quietly at night, quite the contrary. A clumsy animal will spend the night without worrying about its affairs. It should be noted that all this will be quite noisy.

Especially for breeding at home, such hedgehogs were imported, such as the African dwarf sturgeon or the pygmy hedgehog. These individuals are twice less than the usual hedgehog, European. The photo is shown below.

For an institution in the home it is better to buy a hedgehog in the store. Do not take it from the forest, because he can have a family there. If you want to have a prickly pet on your site, it's enough to leave food for him in the evening. Having smelled the smell, the hedgehog will come, and may soon and completely settle in your territory, having built a nest.

Proper care

Up to 8 years old lives in a natural environment European hedgehog. Care at home can increase the duration of his life to 10 years. In hibernation, the house urchins do not fall. To make the animal feel comfortable, it needs to provide good conditions:

1. The temperature of the air in the room must be at least 20 and not more than 27 degrees.
2. The place where the hedgehog will dwell, that is, the cage, must be prepared with all the care: it should be spacious. Lattices can be used any, even wooden, animals will not gnaw them. But the floor is better to cover with some waterproof material. The hedgehogs have thin legs, so they will walk comfortably on the solid floor. Choose a location for the cage, eliminating direct sunlight and drafts.
3. If you have male and female hedgehogs, you need to keep them separate, especially during the appearance of offspring.
4. The hedgehog should have a feeder and a drinking bowl. The trough is better to choose heavy, for example ceramic, so that the animal does not turn it upside down. It should be big enough, because the hedgehog eats a lot. Drinking can be used automatically.
5. In the cage must necessarily be a house where the animal will rest. His role can perform anything, even a pitcher. It is desirable that the roof of the dwelling is removed - so it will be more convenient to clean.
6. It is also necessary to watch the wheel and toys. Many home-made hedgehogs like to run through the tunnel or drive the balls with which cats play. When installing the treadmill, pay attention to the rods: the feet of the animal should not fall through.
7. Periodically release the animal to run around the room, but always under supervision.
8. It is advisable to hide food in a cage so that the hedgehog finds it. This will help him not to lose his instincts.

Nutrition at home

If you live at home a European hedgehog, caring for him, including food, should be full, reminding him of his predatory habits.

Feed the animal only fresh products of room temperature. Due to its predominantly nocturnal lifestyle, it is better to give the basic food late at night.

For feeding a hedgehog, boiled turkey, chicken, rabbit will do. For a full-fledged diet it is necessary to give a hedgehog of insects that have a chitinous shell - beetles, larvae. In pet stores in Europe, there are already special balanced feeds for domestic hedgehogs.

Be sure to include in the diet of your pet fish: it is very useful because of the large content of trace elements. Just clean it well of bones and boil it.

As a treat in rare cases, you can feed the hedgehog with premium-class cat food. It can be either canned food or dry.

Feed the hedgehog with milk and dairy products categorically impossible: his body is not able to process lactose.

To avoid contaminating your pet with worms, insects should better survive a few days in bran to clean them from the ground.

You can not give hedgehogs to insects-inhabitants of apartments, for example, cockroaches: they can contain harmful substances that are used to combat them.