Quick answer
Hedgehogs feed as insectivores, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Key takeaway
Hedgehogs feed as insectivores, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
Hedgehog diet overview
Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are best summarised as Insectivore. Anatomy and habitat (Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens) decide whether they hunt, graze, filter, scavenge, or mix strategies across the year.
How hedgehogs find food
Energy-rich foods are prioritised when available; lean seasons force broader diets or longer travel. Young animals may eat different items or receive food from parents.
Hedgehog role in the food web
As consumers in their food web, hedgehogs move nutrients and influence prey or vegetation.
Feeding and human conflict
Never feed wild hedgehogs. Habituation raises injury risk and can lead to lethal management. Captive diets must match species needs, not generic pet food rules.
Spines and defense
A hedgehog's back is covered in around 5,000 stiff, hollow spines made of keratin, the same material as hair. When threatened it rolls into a tight ball, tucking its soft face, belly, and legs inside a protective sphere of quills that deters most predators.
Diet and foraging
Hedgehogs are insectivores that snuffle through leaf litter at night for beetles, worms, caterpillars, and slugs, which makes them a gardener's friend. They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell and hearing to locate prey in the dark.
Sources
Hedgehog FAQs
What do hedgehogs eat?
Hedgehogs feed as insectivores, adjusting with season, age, and what is abundant in Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens. That label is a preferred pattern, not every item an individual might sample.
What is the scientific name of the hedgehog?
Erinaceus europaeus — used in research and conservation listings for hedgehogs.
Where do hedgehogs live?
They are associated with Hedgerows, woodland, and gardens. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of hedgehogs?
Listed in our guides as Near Threatened. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.