Hedgehogs eat a wide range of invertebrates, beetles, worms, snails, slugs and insects. It will take carrion, scraps, some plant material and an opportunist robber taking mice, baby birds and eggs. For its size the hedgehog has a huge appetite.
Occasionally they may eat amphibians, small rodents and birds that are already dead, slugs and snails, birds' eggs and even fruit.
What do wild hedgehogs eat? In the wild, hedgehogs eat a diverse selection of insects as well as some plant material and, very occasionally, small or baby mammals (like pinkie mice).
Hedgehogs mostly eat invertebrates at ground level that are inactive. They are opportunistic omnivores though and will sometimes eat eggs, small mammals, chicks, frogs, flies and carrion. Up to 10% of their diet comprises smaller slugs (and sometimes snails) so they are a great method of pest control!
First-hand accounts of hedgehogs eating mice do exist, but these are largely assumed to be cases of carrion consumption. Still, hedgehogs can be tenacious and verified reports of them catching lizards, toads and even small birds suggest that taking the odd mouse should not be dismissed out of hand.
Hedgehogs can be pretty tenacious creatures, catching frogs and lizards, so it's not out of the question that a hedgehog could enjoy eating a baby mouse — but it's certainly not common.
The most important invertebrates in their diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. As well as these, they also eat a wide range of other insects. More infrequently, they will take advantage of carrion, frogs, baby rodents, baby birds, birds' eggs and fallen fruit.
A badger and a hedgehog feeding together on a lawn. Badgers are hedgehogs' main predators in the UK. They are the only animals strong enough to tackle a hedgehog's spiny defences. Hedgehogs and badgers share what's known as an asymmetric intraguild predation relationship.
Essential Oils: I have been advised that oils that are considered "hot" are toxic to hedgehogs. Oils that are considered hot: Cassia, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Hyssop, Lemongrass, Ocotea, Oregano, Peppermint, Thieves, and Thyme. These are often contained in blends.
Fruits: Dried fruit should be avoided, but a small amount of fresh fruit can be offered to your hedgehog as treats. Apples, bananas, berries, and melons are popular choices among hedgehogs.
Besides poor calcium:phosphorus ratio grub, another big no-no is dairy. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. Milk and cheese will give them bad diarrhoea and can lead to serious illness as well.
Some hedgehogs do seem to like to snuggle up to their human companions, while others might be shyer or simply prefer exploring and moving about over sitting still and cuddling.
However, you should try to use gloves when handling a hedgehog for your own health and safety. Hedgehogs can bite you, but very rarely will that happen. This usually happens when they are young and think your fingers are going to feed them (if they have been fed via a syringe as they had no mother).
Fill it with lots of hedgehog-safe food and water at sunset, ideally using a hedgehog food bowl and a hedgehog water bowl. Only put out small amounts of food as this is to supplement their diet. Clear away any uneaten food in the morning and refill the dishes each evening so the food and water is always fresh.
Diet of Wild Hedgehogs
Occasionally, hedgehogs even eat vertebrates, such as snakes, lizards and frogs.
It's very rare for hedgehogs to attack, but it can happen. If you look on YouTube, you can find some hedgehog videos where they are aggressive towards people. They tend to try to protect themselves rather than try to go after people, though. Their #1 go-to behavior when afraid is to curl up into a ball.
Keller says, “With appropriate care and keeping, your hedgehog will live about five years, and some even live longer than eight years.” If you have any questions about hedgehogs, contact your local veterinarian.
1. Are Hedgehogs Cuddly? Hedgehogs are solitary creatures and generally only interact with each other in the wild during breeding season. That said, if you obtain your pet hedgehog when it's very young and handle it regularly, there's a chance it will become one of this world's rare affectionate hedgehogs.
Hedgehogs are sensitive to temperature changes. The ideal range is between 75°F and 85°F. However, they will tolerate temperatures between 72°F and 90°F. Hedgehogs can go into a hibernation-like state of inactivity when temperatures are too hot or too cold.
Hedgehogs need environmental temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees. Keep your hedgehog's cage away from drafts, direct sunlight, or cold areas. You may want to provide your hedgehog with a small warm spot in his cage where he can go to get warm but would also be able to get away from if he feels too warm.
The poo of a healthy hedgehog is black to dark brown in colour. Each poo is around 1.5 to 5 centimetres long. They are sausage shape, with one or both ends slightly pointed. They are often almost sparkly due to the bits of beetle skeleton they contain.
During the day, and during winter hibernation, the hedgehog will sleep in a specially built nest in thick undergrowth, under a shed, in piles of leaves or unlit bonfires. It will never sleep or hibernate outside a nest.